Marvin Harrison Jr. emerges as prime trade candidate for Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is drawing increasing attention as a possible trade target as the NFL inches toward the November 10 trade deadline. Several league executives reportedly see him as one of the most likely prominent players to be moved in the coming weeks.

Now in his third NFL season, Harrison has not matched the standard he set as a rookie, and his 2026 start has raised further questions. Working under a new coaching staff that has kept Jacoby Brissett atop the quarterback depth chart after he finished 2025 as the starter, Harrison has managed only five catches for 85 yards and one touchdown so far this year.

Executives split on value, but expect movement

According to Jason La Canfora, "several" executives around the league believe Harrison will be the next notable player traded, and there is an expectation in some front offices that a deal could come together well before the deadline. Josina Anderson has likewise heard Harrison’s name come up repeatedly in recent trade conversations across the NFL.

Any deal would hinge on how other teams and the Cardinals value the former top prospect. Opinions differ on what constitutes a fair offer for Harrison, whose rookie contract runs through 2027 and could be extended by one more season via the fifth-year option. One source cited by Anderson floated a second-round pick as a possible price point, a level of compensation that would surprise some given how his trajectory has unfolded since 2025.

Shrinking role in offense and lingering health questions

Drafted fourth overall in 2024 and once billed as an elite talent, Harrison has seen his role in Arizona’s offense diminish. Fellow receiver Michael Wilson has drawn 30 targets over the Cardinals’ past two games, while tight end Trey McBride remains a central figure in the passing attack. That shift has sharpened concerns about Harrison’s fit in Mike LaFleur’s system.

Although his 2025 season was widely labeled a disappointment, Harrison’s receiving yards per game that year were similar to his rookie output. It is his 2026 average, now significantly lower, that has intensified scrutiny. A June report also indicated Harrison had not fully recovered from injuries suffered in 2025, including heel issues in both feet. He was active for only two of Arizona’s final five games last season and made just one catch over that stretch.

Against that backdrop, teams are weighing whether they can acquire a receiver who was viewed as a top-five talent two years ago at a reduced cost. The Cardinals, for their part, must decide if future draft capital outweighs the potential payoff of keeping Harrison and banking on a revival in Arizona.