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ESPN Trade Deadline Grades Reveal Why Marvin Harrison Jr. Gamble Might Not Fix Texans' Offense
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- ESPN Trade Deadline Grades Reveal Why Marvin Harrison Jr. Gamble Might Not Fix Texans' Offense
Houston Texans needed another reliable weapon for C.J. Stroud after Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending ACL injury. At the same time, Nico Collins missed time with a hamstring injury. Kayshon Boutte's earlier arrival had not solved the problem, either. Trading for Marvin Harrison Jr. immediately after the 26-3 win over the Tennessee Titans was a bet on talent, chemistry and a possible late-season turnaround.
ESPN's Seth Walder and Ben Solak gave Houston a "C+" grade, and the concern is what it surrendered. The Texans acquired Harrison and a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2027 second-rounder and seventh-rounder. Harrison was the fourth overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft, but his NFL production has fallen short of that billing.
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Through his first two games with Houston, Marvin recorded four catches for 40 yards and one touchdown. Walder sees the deal as a gamble since Harrison managed just 1.5 yards per route run across his first 33 career games, a mark that fell to 0.6 yards per route run across his four games with Arizona earlier in 2026.
"I would not have made this trade if I were the Texans because the odds of Harrison breaking out immediately feel too low to justify the compensation. But I at least understand the thought process and desire to maximize a loaded roster's chances of making a real run to make the playoffs and win postseason games," Walder noted.
However, a reunion with Stroud, his former Ohio State quarterback, offers hope, though Houston needs far more than that.
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Cardinals Earn an A- as Arizona Moves Forward With Michael Wilson
The Cardinals earned a 2027 second-round pick and sixth-round pick for Harrison and a seventh-round selection, earning an "A-" grade from Walder. Arizona moved on before Harrison's trade value fell further, turning a struggling former No. 4 overall pick into valuable draft capital.
With Harrison gone, Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride become even more important to Jacoby Brissett's passing game. Both have drawn heavy defensive attention, making it harder for Arizona to generate consistent production through the air. The Cardinals' 45-21 loss to Detroit also showed how much work remains for the team.
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To address depth, Arizona brought back the veteran receiver Zay Jones on October 27, adding a familiar face with more than 300 career receptions to replace Jalen Brooks. Still, the Cardinals face a challenge similar to Houston's, as both teams continue searching for reliable offensive production.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
