Can Marvin Harrison Jr prove he was the best wide receiver taken in the 2024 NFL Draft in Year 2? After an up-and-down debut season in the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver will be out to prove his rookie season was just a building block in his rise to stardom.
Very much over shadowed by fellow first-year receivers Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr and Ladd McConkey, Harrison Jr. didn’t have a bad rookie season. He did haul in 62 receptions for 885 yards and 8 touchdowns, but he didn’t make the immediate impact forecasted by the No. 4 overall pick in the draft.
With his rookie season behind him, Harrison Jr. will have a bigger spotlight on him to become the team’s No. 1 offensive playmaker. Can he rise to stardom in Year 2? It’s going to depend on the chemistry between him and Kyler Murray according to NFL analyst Dan Graziano, who sees the Cardinals relying more on a big Year 2 jump for Harrison.
“More is expected in Harrison’s second season, and the same can be said of Murray in his seventh,” Graziano wrote. “Arizona made almost no changes on offense this offseason after finishing ninth in offensive EPA in 2024. The Cardinals beefed up on defense, hoping that will be enough to make them contenders. But Murray and the offense have to take a step forward if that’s to happen, and a breakout for Harrison will help.”
Why Marvin Harrison Jr will rise to stardom in Year 2
In echoing Graziano, the Cardinals will be depending on a breakout season for Harrison Jr. who has the size and skillset to be a very effective wide receiver in the NFL. How good he can be will depend on the offensive around him and how he has worked on his body to make him a stronger receiver against NFL cornerbacks. Here are 3 points of emphasis that will lead to Year 2 stardom for Harrison:
- Tight end Trey McBride was the No. 1 target in the Cardinals’ offense in 2024. With him signed to an extended deal, the team will at least have a dependable playmaker as the No. 1 option until Harrison Jr. comes into his own. The hope is that it won’t take long for the second-year receiver to establish himself as the top option for Murray.
- At 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, Harrison Jr. has beefed up over the offseason in hopes of being a stronger receiver. The added mass should help him win 50-50 balls over defenders.
- The chemistry between Harrison and Murray should be stronger. Despite an up-and-down rookie season, the Ohio State product still tied a franchise rookie record of 8 touchdowns with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. That connection with Murray should lead to more targets and connection for MHJ in Year 2.
With perhaps more pressure placed on him in his second year in the NFL, Harrison Jr’s progress will depend mostly on the chemistry with Murray, but also his ability to read defenses and be where he needs to be on the field to make the biggest impact. Once he finds his niche, sky is the limit for Marvin Harrison Jr.