Texans trade for Harrison Jr., reunite him with Stroud — SkimNews
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- Houston Texans sent a 2027 second-round pick and sixth-round pick to Arizona for Marvin Harrison Jr. and a 2027 seventh-rounder, with coach DeMeco Ryans announcing the deal at his postgame news conference after a 26-3 win over Tennessee
- Harrison managed just 5 catches on 12 targets for 85 yards and one touchdown this season after being selected No. 4 overall in the 2024 draft, and was inactive for the Cardinals' Week 5 game against Detroit while the trade was being completed
- Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur shouldered blame for the stalled development, saying '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,' and called the trade 'in the best interest of the club'
- C.J. Stroud confirmed the Texans consulted him on Harrison before the deal, calling his former Ohio State teammate 'probably the hardest worker I've ever been around in my life' — the two were 2022 All-Americans together
- Harrison's contract carries base salaries of $4 million this year and $5.62 million in 2027, with a fifth-year option coming this offseason; his $22.5 million signing bonus had already been paid by Arizona
- Texans QB Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals locker room were caught off guard by the move, with Brissett calling it 'tough' and saying 'that's a person that meant a lot to me' despite acknowledging 'the NFL is a business'
Why it matters: The Texans paid two mid-round picks to buy low on a top-5 talent whose $22.5 million signing bonus is already a sunk cost for Arizona — essentially a free option on a fifth-year decision if Stroud can unlock what LaFleur could not. For a team that entered the season as Super Bowl contenders and started 0-4, the Stroud-Harrison Ohio State reunion is a low-risk swing at salvaging the year.
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