In 2024, the Arizona Cardinals used the fourth-overall pick on Marvin Harrison Jr. After an elite college career, Harrison was expected to set the league on fire and elevate whatever team drafted him. However, he ended his rookie season with 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, and the Cardinals were an underwhelming 8-9.
Harrison’s numbers were really good for a rookie wideout, but in today’s impatient climate that is fueled by comparison, Harrison was irresponsibly criticized as fellow rookies Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers, and Ladd McConkey all had more productive seasons than him— each eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards. However, NFL careers aren’t just about what you do as a rookie, it’s about how you stack years.
In Arizona, the belief is that Harrison is ready to add an elite season to his resume. His head coach Jonathan Gannon recently spoke with Adam Schein on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, and when it was time to talk about Harrison, Gannon essentially put the NFC West and the rest of the NFL on notice.
He explained that the young receiver aggressively approached the offseason, and the team already sees a difference. While Gannon and the Cardinals were happy with what Harrison showed in year one, the head coach believes his young receiver is about to be scary good in year two.
"He looks awesome out there right now. I'm really excited to see where his game goes... I think he added a little bit of muscle mass. He looks a little bit bigger. All his numbers, his metrics are all better than when we got him. I'm not gonna speak truth into the universe, but just wait until this guy plays this year."Jonathan Gannon on Marvin Harrison Jr.
Cardinals are expecting Marvin Harrison Jr. to take a significant jump in 2025
Gannon explained how at the end of last season, Harrison Jr. approached him with a developmental plan, instead of the usual reverse of a coach telling a player where they need to improve. The head coach also detailed how Harrison stuck around all offseason, just grinding.
In addition to the work, the young wideout is also entering year two in the league, the same system, and with Kyler Murray as his quarterback— that continuity can make a huge difference in production. If everything falls into place like Gannon seems to think it will, Marvin Harrison Jr. will deliver like the receiver everyone thought he’d be coming out of college.