The New York Giants have a long-term question at wide receiver beyond Malik Nabers, and a touted player from his own draft class could become a potential answer. According to The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones, the Arizona Cardinals could eventually conclude that trading Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best path forward.

The Cardinals are not desperate to move Harrison. Still, at some point over the next few weeks, Arizona could consider that possibility if the former Ohio State star doesn’t take a step forward in his game. Jones argued that Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort would probably ask for something like a Day 2 draft pick in a deal.

Curiously enough, Harrison scored a touchdown against the Giants on Sunday. But the 12-yard catch was his only one during the Giants’ 36-24 win.

A reasonable price for the Giants

Let’s say the Giants trade a third-round pick for Harrison, even if they throw in a late-round swap, for instance, to sweeten the deal. That would be a logical move for contract reasons, if nothing else.

If New York acquires the wide receiver close to the trade deadline, it would take on more or less half of his 2026 salary. That works out to a little more than $2 million. The Giants would also acquire his 2027 salary of $5.6 million, which is fully guaranteed.

Then, in the 2027 offseason, the team would have to make a decision on Harrison’s fifth-year option for 2028. According to Spotrac, the option is projected at $35.5 million. At this point of his career, New York would probably decline it.

Therefore, the Giants would be acquiring Harrison for the rest of the 2026 season and the 2027 season under his current contract. That’s not a prohibitive cost. And if the price in draft capital is a third-round pick or so, the deal would be reasonable as well.

Why Harrison could be available

Harrison’s 2026 start has been complicated. Through his first four games, he has only five receptions for 85 yards. He is behind Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne on the Cardinals’ depth chart. Those two have been Arizona’s most productive wide receivers, with tight end Trey McBride their pass-catcher producing the most.

Harrison had a solid rookie season in 2024, with 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Last year, he had 73 targets, 41 receptions, 608 yards, and four touchdowns. He certainly didn’t live up to his draft hype. Nonetheless, he was a fairly decent wide receiver prior to this year.

That’s why a change of scenery could make sense. If the Giants trade for Harrison and recoup some of the talent he showed at Ohio State, the same talent that made him a first-round pick, they could add an element of explosiveness and production to the offense.

Uniting the 2024 draft classmates

Curiously enough, the Cardinals selected Harrison with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. New York then took Nabers two picks later at No. 6. The Giants are certainly happy with that outcome. But uniting those two players for reasonable draft capital would be an intriguing proposition.

New York has five wide receivers on the 53-man roster. Last week, the team released Odell Beckham Jr. and promoted Braxton Berrios from the practice squad. The active roster now has Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Charlie Jones, and Berrios.

From that group, only Nabers and Fields are long-term considerations. Adding a third talented player to the room would give the Giants a stronger foundation at the position, especially at a price that wouldn’t compromise the rest of the roster.