Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade Rumors: 4 mystery teams and trade simulations for the Arizona WR
The Arizona Cardinals appear set to move on from Marvin Harrison Jr. after Sunday. What could a realistic return look like on the new trade simulator?
The Arizona Cardinals and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. are headed for a breakup. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and Tom Pelissero all reported Saturday morning that Harrison’s tenure in Arizona is coming to an end, but not until after Sunday’s slate. Schefter added that Harrison will be inactive this week while the Cardinals work toward finalizing a deal.
The reported asking price is a second-round pick. The Houston Texans are involved, while the Indianapolis Colts kicked the tires and decided to pass. That is a stunning spot for the 4th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
If you had told me before that draft that Harrison would one day be available for a second-round pick, I would have called you crazy. He was one of the most complete wide receiver prospects to come out in some time. Nothing about his character coming out of Ohio State raised a red flag.
Why the second-round asking price feels like leverage
The production simply hasn’t been there. In 33 games and 30 starts, Harrison has 108 receptions for 1,578 yards and 13 touchdowns. Through four games, he has just five catches for 85 yards.
Arizona is trying to sell somewhat high before his value drops any further. I could be wrong, but the second-round ask feels like leverage from the team side. Announcing that a second will get it done, while also signaling that teams are already interested, sounds like an invitation for a late bidding war.
In a vacuum, a second-round pick feels like a lot for a player who was banged up in 2025 and has barely contributed in 2026. A second with something like a fourth coming back the other way could work, but I don’t see a clean second straight up.
The new A to Z Sports Trade Simulator agrees (check it out HERE).
A to Z’s Travis May built the tool by reverse engineering the last decade of NFL trades, and it went live Friday at atozsports.com/trade-simulator. Harrison carries a value of 508 points, well below the 645-point base for a wide receiver. His 46 grade this year drags him down. He still offers two more years of control plus a fifth-year option.
The simulator puts his value close to the 77th overall pick, and the 13th overall pick is worth roughly three times as much.
4 Marvin Harrison Jr. trade simulations
Here is what Austin Stanley and I cooked up for four potential suitors. The video is also below if you prefer to listen.
Houston Texans
The Texans receive Harrison and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Arizona gets a 2027 third-round pick and rookie linebacker Aiden Fisher out of Indiana.
I don’t think the Cardinals will take anything less than a third, and I don’t think they’re getting a second. Fisher was a player I liked a decent amount in the draft, even though he fell to the seventh round out of Indiana. He is a rosterable linebacker and special teamer. The sixth coming back keeps it from being a complete landslide, and the deal still leans slightly toward the Cardinals.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City has dealt with injury issues at wide receiver, including Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice. In this deal, the Chiefs land Harrison while Arizona gets a 2027 fourth-round pick, guard Kingsley Suamataia, and linebacker Cole Christiansen.
The Chiefs have some leverage here because Harrison hasn’t played like a top-100 asset. Suamataia struggled at tackle early in his career, but the BYU product has done a good job since moving inside to guard. That is a starter-level guard on a rookie contract. Christiansen is a depth special teamer who adds short-term value.
A fourth and a starting-caliber lineman is a solid return for a receiver with 85 yards in four games.
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo seems to perpetually need another wide receiver, even after adding DJ Moore this offseason. This one is a rare two-for-one. The Bills get Harrison, and the Cardinals get defensive end Michael Hoecht and rookie offensive tackle Jude Bowry from Boston College.
With first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, I’d expect Arizona to prefer draft capital. Still, Bowry is cost-controlled for four seasons and drew plenty of fans in the 2026 NFL Draft. Hoecht is 29, coming back from injury last year, and a winning football player. Rebuilding teams need veterans who can show young players how to win.
Las Vegas Raiders
I never thought I’d call the Las Vegas Raiders deadline buyers. They just took Kansas City down to the wire and were a couple of plays away from a 4-0 start. The tight ends are great, but the receiver room needs a young injection of talent.
The Raiders send offensive tackle Charles Grant and a third-round pick to the Cardinals, who send back Harrison and a sixth-round pick. I liked Grant coming out of William & Mary; he flashed in the preseason, and he has three years of cost control left. The values land close, with Arizona coming out slightly ahead.
The Cardinals want this done quickly. We will know where Harrison lands after Sunday, but I’d be surprised if the final price matches the asking price.
