The Houston Texans not solely bought their first win Sunday, additionally they consummated a commerce that sends a direct sign to their gamers that this season just isn’t over – regardless of their 1-4 begin.
Shortly after a powerful 26-3 pasting of the Tennessee Titans, Houston’s former crew, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans concluded his postgame press convention by confirming the acquisition of WR Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals. It is a daring gambit for the Texans, who gave up a second-round decide in subsequent 12 months’s extremely anticipated draft to get the deal over the end line. However H-City may also be the proper spot for a participant who’s disenchanted in his two-plus NFL seasons so far.
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The winners and losers of the uncommon deal signaled on a Sunday:
WINNERS
Marvin Harrison Jr.
The fourth general decide of the 2024 draft has but to stay as much as his advance billing, but to catch 70 passes in a season nor surpass 900 receiving yards. “MHJ” has been nearly invisible this 12 months, totaling simply 5 receptions for 85 yards and a TD in 4 appearances for Arizona. However now he will get a much-needed contemporary begin with a crew that is reached the playoffs in every of the earlier three seasons – and is reunited along with his school QB.
C.J. Stroud
Houston’s quarterback, who’s enjoying for a long-term extension however has been enjoying with a stripped-down wideout corps – notably when Professional Bowler Nico Collins has been out of the lineup – now has his proficient former Ohio State teammate again within the fold, and Harrison ought to have a golden alternative to thrive right here within the WR2 position behind Collins. Harrison caught 77 balls for 1,263 yards and 14 TDs in 2022 for the Buckeyes, when Stroud was throwing to him. Maybe extra necessary to Stroud and his teammates, this indicators the entrance workplace’s perception that this crew remains to be able to occurring a run and an acknowledgment {that a} defense-skewed roster wants extra assistance on the opposite aspect of the ball.
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Monti Ossenfort
Arizona’s GM parlayed Harrison and a 2027 seventh-rounder into Spherical 2 and 6 picks in subsequent 12 months’s draft, fairly a pleasant restoration for a participant who underperformed as blatantly as Harrison did. Transferring ahead, Ossenfort can goal a wideout substitute subsequent 12 months or maybe bundle this decide ought to he want to maneuver up for the quarterback goal of his selection subsequent spring − when the Playing cards will nearly actually be out there for a possible new face of the franchise.
Extra: Marvin Harrison Jr. commerce grades expose catastrophe deal for Texans
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 25: Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals runs onto the sphere in the course of the NFL 2025 sport at State Farm Stadium on September 25, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 23-20. (Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Photos)
LOSERS
Monti Ossenfort
It is truthful to wonder if the Playing cards would have been higher off taking Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. in 2024 moderately than Harrison at No. 4 (after Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye). If nothing else, Ossenfort definitively missed at wideout given Malik Nabers was additionally on the board.
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Nick Caserio
It is a daring – determined? – roll of the cube by Houston’s EVP/GM, who paid an enormous worth for an unproven participant … and may be obligated to pay much more. Harrison has 12 weeks to make a distinction in Houston’s 2026 season and show he was miscast or simply a part of a foul marriage with the Cardinals. If he would not, Caserio has mortgaged a pleasant chunk of the Texans’ future – particularly given the presumed high quality and depth of subsequent 12 months’s draft. If Harrison does present indicators of life – certainly what Caserio and Co. are hoping for right here – then Houston can be obligated to select up the receiver’s hefty fifth-year contract choice subsequent spring, which is able to add additional pressure to a wage cap already encumbered by some high-leverage contracts and but to account for a probable Stroud extension.
Ohio State WR legacy
Reigning Offensive Participant of the Yr Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Emeka Egbuka, all first-round picks since 2022, have greater than upheld the lofty pedigree of Buckeyes wideouts. Carnell Tate, the fourth general decide by the Tennessee Titans earlier this 12 months, is anticipated to hitch their ranks quickly sufficient. However Harrison, anticipated by many draft observers to be one of the best of the bunch from current years when he got here out, has to this point unequivocally been the most important disappointment and a little bit of a flight on the Columbus wideout meeting line. (No, we do not count on it to affect the draft place of Jeremiah Smith in 2027. In any respect.)
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This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Marvin Harrison Jr. commerce winners and losers embody C.J. Stroud and Cardinals GM
