Texans land Marvin Harrison Jr. in trade — and he reunites with C.J. Stroud

The Houston Texans made it official Monday night, trading for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and reuniting the former No. 4 overall pick with quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Houston sent a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Arizona in exchange for Harrison and a 2027 seventh-round selection. The deal ends a two-season stretch in Glendale that never quite lived up to the pre-draft hype.

"We're excited to add Marvin to our team," Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He's crushed a lot of college records. Got multiple thousand-yard receiving seasons in college. He has good rapport with C.J. from their time at Ohio State."

That rapport is the heart of the move. Harrison and Stroud played together in Columbus from 2021-22 and were both All-Americans in 2022. Stroud was already gushing before the trade was announced, after Sunday's 26-3 win over the Tennessee Titans.

"He's a dynamic playmaker," Stroud told reporters. "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."

A fresh start after a quiet run

Harrison's time in Arizona never matched the generational label he carried out of the draft. In four games this season he'd totaled just five catches on 12 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown, ranked fifth on the team in targets. Across 33 career games he has 1,578 yards but has yet to crack 1,000 in a season, limited at times by injuries.

In Houston he steps into a passing attack that ranks sixth in the NFL, but which has leaned heavily on Pro Bowler Nico Collins, who leads all receivers in targets (18) and catches (14). Harrison instantly becomes the second real weapon for Stroud.

"Super athletic, dynamic wide receiver," defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said. "I'm excited to have him here. It's going to be big. I know C.J.'s going to love it."

Harrison is due $4 million this year and $5.62 million next year, with a fifth-year option decision coming this offseason. If the Texans pick it up, he'd be in Houston through the 2028 season. Houston next plays the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London.