Texans Acquire Marvin Harrison Jr. After Cardinals Trade Decision

The Houston Texans acquired wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals after the teams completed a trade on October 11, 2026, with Houston adding the former No. 4 overall pick and Arizona receiving draft selections, according to sports.yahoo.com and usatoday.com.

According to usatoday.com, the Cardinals sent Harrison and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Houston in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and sixth-round pick. The deal followed a four-game stretch in which Harrison recorded five receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown.

Houston coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed the move after the Texans' 26-3 win over the Tennessee Titans, according to usatoday.com.

"You guys want to know, huh? Yes, we traded for Marvin Harrison," said DeMeco Ryans, Texans coach.

Former NFL scout Daniel Kelly criticized the potential impact of the trade before the deal was finalized, citing concerns from his pre-draft evaluation of Harrison. According to sports.yahoo.com, Kelly said he focused heavily on Harrison's physical traits while overlooking other concerns.

"Trading for Marvin Harrison Jr. is a bad idea. He isn't going to turn it around," said Daniel Kelly, former NFL scout.

Kelly said he believed a new team and coaching staff would not resolve the issues he identified. According to sports.yahoo.com, he argued Harrison's struggles were not limited to his current situation in Arizona.

"Putting on a different NFL helmet will not change anything. Nobody is going to be able to 'coach him up.' Nobody is going to be able to 'fix him,'" said Daniel Kelly, former NFL scout.

According to sports.yahoo.com, Kelly also referenced Harrison's family background while explaining his concerns about the receiver's development after Ohio State.

"He grew up soft and entitled with a famous dad," said Daniel Kelly, former NFL scout.

Harrison entered the NFL after a standout Ohio State career but has struggled to match expectations. According to sports.yahoo.com, he caught 108 of 201 NFL targets for a 53.7% catch rate, compared with 155 of 256 targets for a 60.5% rate in college.

According to sports.yahoo.com, Harrison finished 2024 with 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Injuries limited him to 12 games last season, when he posted 41 receptions for 608 yards and four touchdowns.