A trade between the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans will send Marvin Harrison Jr. out of Arizona once the deal is finalised. Arizona's side of the arrangement includes Harrison and a 2027 sixth-round pick, with a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick returning to the Cardinals.

Paperwork on the deal was completed over the weekend, though Harrison was still required to clear a physical examination before the transaction could be formally closed.

Harrison was selected by the Cardinals with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft. Over two seasons in Arizona, he did not meet the expectations that selection had carried. Through the opening stretch of the 2026 season, Harrison had recorded only five catches.

Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort addressed the trade in a written statement once the agreement was finalised, noting that roster decisions of this kind are never straightforward and that the organisation's choices would always be guided by what serves the football team. The organisation also expressed appreciation for Harrison's contributions in the statement.

Arizona fell to 1-4 on the season following a 45-21 defeat against Detroit in Week 5, a result that came approximately one day after news of Harrison's departure had become public. Head coach LaFleur told reporters the situation posed no disruption to the team's preparation and that his view of Harrison remained positive. LaFleur also noted that Harrison's departure would be felt by him and by others in the locker room, and described Harrison's character in favourable terms, expressing a hope that things go well for him.

Post-game, LaFleur took responsibility for the loss, saying the decisions made were ones he believed served the Cardinals' interests and that whenever a player falls short of his potential, he places that burden on himself and the coaching staff rather than the player. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett echoed that sentiment, describing the outcome as a hard one to take.

Brissett also noted that his connections to Harrison extend beyond the sport itself, and acknowledged that the practical realities of the business do not reduce the weight of those circumstances when they arise.

Harrison has since joined Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, with whom he previously shared time at Ohio State. Stroud led the Texans to a win against the Tennessee Titans to open the 2026 season.

With Harrison no longer in the lineup, Trey McBride and Michael Wilson are expected to carry the bulk of Arizona's passing offense for the remainder of the season.