playDJ Bien-AimeOct 11, 2026, 04:35 PM ETCloseDJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets for the New York Daily News. He’s a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show “Talkin’ Texans.”Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Texans coach DeMeco Ryans ended his postgame news conference in grand fashion Sunday by telling reporters that Houston had completed a trade for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.The Texans sent two picks in the 2027 draft (a second-rounder and sixth-rounder) to the Cardinals for Harrison and a 2027 seventh-round selection, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.Ryans’ announcement came after Houston defeated the Tennessee Titans 26-3.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud went 26-of-34 for 261 passing yards with two total touchdowns (one rushing and one passing).Harrison and Stroud played together (2021-22) at Ohio State and were All-Americans in 2022. The Texans believe the reunion can turn Harrison into the player many believed he would become when he was selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft.”He [is] a dynamic playmaker,” Stroud said. “Somebody who runs great routes, someone who can catch really any ball, and I’m just super excited to get with him.
I loved him in college. He’s probably the hardest worker I’ve ever been around in my life.”Harrison was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions as the trade was being completed. Harrison was not at the Cardinals’ team meetings Saturday night, sources told ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss.In his first comments since the trade, after the Cardinals lost to the Detroit Lions 45-21 on Sunday, coach Mike LaFleur said the decision to trade Harrison was done with the team in mind.”I just thought it was in the best interest of the club,” LaFleur said.LaFleur put the blame for Harrison not blossoming into what many expected from a fourth overall pick on himself.”Any guy that does not play to the level that I feel like they’re capable of, I’m always going to put that on me in coaching in general,” LaFleur said.Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. said the news of Harrison’s trade came as a surprise. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett said Harrison and LaFleur told the team about the move on Saturday before the news leaked.
And while the locker room understands the NFL is a business and decisions like the one to trade Harrison happen, it still wasn’t easy to accept the wide receiver was leaving.”I mean, it definitely happened fast and obviously outside of football, that’s a person that meant a lot to me and I had a really good relationship with,” Brissett said. “And you never want to see somebody leave, but just obviously wish him the best on whatever he has coming up next for him. But yeah, it’s tough. It’s tough.
I mean, we all have a really good relationship with him in the locker room, so obviously losing him is big.”Brissett added: “It’s somebody that I know I’ll miss and then a lot of guys in that locker room are missing and I’m sure a lot of us are rooting for Marv.”Harrison has five catches on 12 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown through four games this season and was the fifth-most-targeted player on the Cardinals’ offense. Tight end Trey McBride, wide receivers Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne, and running back Jeremiyah Love have more targets than Harrison, who was tied for the sixth-most receptions on the team.Stroud revealed that the Texans consulted with him to get background on Harrison before they completed the trade.”I had some conversations with some different people,” Stroud said. “Telling them who he is as a person, as a player, what I liked about him when I played. So, I thought our front office did a great job allowing me to be part of it.”Sunday’s victory gave the Texans their first win following an 0-4 start after entering the season as Super Bowl contenders.
The hope is Sunday’s victory and the Harrison trade can turn around Houston’s season.Players on both sides of the ball were excited for the trade. Texans defensive end Will Anderson, who had three sacks against the Titans, said, “It’s going to be really great to get him into that receiver room.”He added: “Super athletic, dynamic wide receiver, can do a lot. I’m excited to have him here. It’s going to be big.
I can’t wait to see what he does. I know C.J’.s going to love it.”Harrison is due $4 million this year and $5.62 million in 2027. He also has a fifth-year option coming up this offseason. His $22.5 million signing bonus was already paid by the Cardinals.ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss contributed to this report.
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