The Arizona Cardinals heavily invested in Marvin Harrison Jr. when they selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That decision has yet to pay off as the Ohio State product has struggled relative to sky-high expectations.
It's too premature to declare him a bust by any means, but all eyes were on him last season as many wondered if he could bounce back from an underwhelming rookie campaign. Fans anticipating a breakout season were disappointed to find out he actually regressed, finishing with 608 receiving yards, 41 receptions, and 4 touchdowns in 12 games played.
To play devil's advocate, the Cardinals haven't necessarily done a great job of putting him in the optimal position to succeed either. Hopefully, the hiring of Mike LaFleur leads to more creative ways to get Harrison involved, as he is expected to take on a role similar to that of Davante Adams when LaFleur was previously the Rams' offensive coordinator.
Marvin Harrison Jr. faces a make-or-break season in Arizona
Things could be aligning for that third-year breakout that receivers tend to have (which we just saw with Michael Wilson last season). A healthier season under what should be a better offensive system is certainly a step in the right direction for Harrison's career trajectory.
One significant roadblock, however, is the Cardinals' shaky quarterback room. Whether it's Jacoby Brissett ending his holdout, Gardner Minshew II finding himself as another stopgap, or rookie Carson Beck getting his chance sooner than expected, Arizona is lacking reliable options at the position.
The counterargument is that, as a high pick, Harrison should be able to produce regardless of any external factors. Up until this point, that hasn't been the case.
The Cardinals essentially doubled down on their polarizing draft strategy with their recent No. 3 overall selection of Jeremiyah Love. While this roster is suddenly exciting if you manage way too many fantasy football teams as I do, it's fair to wonder whether this approach will translate to meaningful wins outside of your computer.
The opportunity cost of prioritizing talent over position means you have no margin for error to miss on these selections. The Cardinals are eagerly waiting for Harrison's breakout to happen, as it remains to be seen whether they made the correct decision.
Hopefully he shows meaningful progress in Year 3 and can then continue building on that once Arizona finally resolves its long-term quarterback situation in the coming seasons. Because if not, this rebuilding Cardinals roster is going to be fighting an uphill battle as they try to catch up to the rest of their stacked division.
Add us as a preferred source on Google