NFLBlueBook's Charles Robinson canvassed seven NFL front offices this week and got concrete evaluations of what the Arizona Cardinals receiver would actually cost in a trade.
Three executives told Robinson they'd value Harrison at a projected late second-round pick, citing his production at Ohio State and what one executive called the "uneven nature of the Arizona Cardinals franchise that he was drafted into."
The Other Four Executives Disagree
The remaining four front offices Robinson spoke with see Harrison's price tag differently, valuing him closer to a third-round pick plus an additional asset, whether that's a late pick or some form of pick swap.
One executive pointed to the Dallas Cowboys' trade for George Pickens as a useful real-world comparison, since the Cowboys landed Pickens and a sixth-round pick in exchange for third- and fifth-round selections.
Another general manager offered a more unusual idea, suggesting a straight player-for-player swap could make sense given how muddled Harrison's evaluation has become.
"He is a player that is getting judged relative to what he was supposed to be, while people are losing sight of the fact that he is still a useful player," one general manager told Robinson.
His Situation Is Hard To Read
Harrison has managed just four catches on nine targets through three games this season, a stunning drop-off for a player who caught 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2024.
Part of the complication is context beyond his own play. In just over two seasons, Harrison has played for two different coaching staffs and two different quarterbacks, and dealt with an injury-shortened 2025, a level of instability that makes it difficult for evaluators to separate his own performance from the environment around him.
Cardinals threw 52 times in Week 3. Michael Wilson saw 17 targets, Trey McBride had 11
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 28, 2026
Marvin Harrison Jr. had just 5 targets - 49% of his routes were vertical. Just unusable in fantasy
His fifth-year option adds another wrinkle, worth $18.968 million guaranteed for the 2028 season, a number Robinson notes is unlikely to be exercised by Arizona or any acquiring team unless his production turns around.
Buffalo, Houston, New England, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis have been mentioned by Robinson as logical fits based on roster needs and connections, but that's his own evaluation of potential landing spots.
