The Arizona Cardinals will need a lot of things to go right for them as they try to establish a new culture under head coach Mike LaFleur. That will require some players to step up
Ralph Vacchiano named breakout picks for every team in the NFC. His choice for the Cardinals is third-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Here’s what Vacchiano wrote about the former No. 4 overall pick.
“He has 103 catches, 1,493 yards and 12 touchdowns since the Cardinals drafted him No. 4 overall. It’s about what would be expected of him if that had come in one season instead of two. Harrison, however, has been hampered by injuries and a terrible quarterback situation in Arizona. Entering Year 3 … well, hopefully his health has at least improved. If so, expect new coach Mike LaFleur to add some creativity to an offense surely built around this potentially dominant receiver. His numbers should spike, even if the Cardinals’ QB situation remains a mess.”
Harrison’s career with the Cardinals has been under the microscope since the day he was drafted.
Marvin Harrison Jr. Enters Critical Third Year with the Cardinals
To say that the 2026 season is a critical year for Marvin Harrison Jr. is an understatement. Drafted fourth overall out of Ohio State in the 2024 NFL Draft, the expectation was that Harrison would develop into a key contributor in the offense.
That hasn’t quite happened yet. Much of that has been a result of things out of his control. The Cardinals are in quarterback limbo after releasing Kyler Murray. In addition, he missed a significant amount of time with a concussion last season.
One of the mandates for head coach Mike LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is figuring out where Harrison fits in their offense. There won’t be much of an indication until the regular season is underway.
They’re hoping journeyman Jacoby Brissett can run the offense well enough to get a better evaluation of their pass catchers. The 33-year-old is ranked as the No. 33 quarterback on The Athletic‘s yearly survey, which further highlights the issue with their situation at the game’s most critical position.
The Cardinals will have to make a fifth-year option decision on Harrison next spring. If they decline it, the former fourth overall pick becomes a free agent after the 2027 season. Ideally, the team has a much better idea of the on-field value he provides before this season is over.
Harrison hasn’t had a great camp, dealing with drop issues. LaFleur addressed the third-year receiver’s struggles to start camp, praising his ability to respond after the drops.
Cardinals Skill Group Entering the 2026 Season
The Cardinals don’t lack for pass-catching options in their offense. They got big years from Michael Wilson and Trey McBride, who both put up 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2025.
Mike LaFleur helped design an offense that made Puka Nacua one of the toughest receivers to cover. The question he faces in Arizona is using that scheme to his advantage and unlocking Marvin Harrison Jr.’s potential.
Harrison should start alongside Wilson as the top two receivers in the offense. He should also get some looks when the Cardinals turn to their three-tight-end packages to create matchups against base defense. It’s something LaFleur witnessed firsthand when he was the Rams‘ offensive coordinator in 2024.
Former Cardinals First-Rounder Named ‘Breakout’ Player for 2026 Season