Texans Trade: A Mistake In Missing Marvin Harrison Jr. in Next NFL Draft?

Generational talent is rare and the Houston Texans appear to have cost themselves a shot at one player, Marvin Harrison Jr., by giving up their 2024 first round pick.

Most everyone came away from the 2023 NFL Draft happy with what the Houston Texans did. Even if you weren’t a fan of the picks, you likely applauded the aggression the Texans showed in selecting at Nos. 2 and 3 in the first round. 

Of course, the price of getting the third pick involved sending Houston’s 2024 first-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals.

And perhaps the Texans didn’t know it then, but there’s a potential generational talent coming out at a position of need that they’ll now miss out on because of the deal.

“(Marvin Harrison Jr.) has everything you look for in a No. 1 wide receiver,” says NFL.com media analyst Daniel Jeremiah of the star Ohio State receiver. “He has a big frame, outstanding speed and natural hands. He has a unique blend of power and grace…and can access another gear when the ball is in the air.”

Harrison is still a year of college football with the Buckeyes away from entering the league as most assume he’ll enter the NFL Draft in 2024. 

With Houston projected to pick near or at the top of the draft once again, it’s highly likely it would get the opportunity to pair this highly-hyped receiver with his college quarterback, and new Texans signal caller, C.J. Stroud.

Instead, according to an ESPN early mock, Harrison ends up in Arizona at the exact projected spot the Texans would be picking. 

Without their own pick, Houston is left with the Cleveland Browns’ first-round pick, projected to be much later in the first round, and likely out of reach of trying to trade up for the receiver.

Immediately, this shouldn’t strike anyone around the Texans as a problem given that they clearly thought highly enough of Alabama edge defender Will Anderson Jr. to pay the bounty to get him.

But if that move doesn’t pan out early, Houston fans and media alike may be wondering what could have been - Anderson vs. Marvin - if the franchise had been patient in their rebuild and targeted arguably the most highly anticipated receiver prospect we’ve seen in years.

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