The Arizona Cardinals are finalizing a trade of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the expected destination is Houston, not Baltimore. For Ravens fans, the story still matters: rival general managers told Sports Illustrated that Baltimore at least looked into a deal before the market settled on the Texans.
Here is what is known, what is still unofficial and what it means for a 3-1 Ravens team heading into Sunday night’s game in Atlanta.
Where is Marvin Harrison Jr. being traded?
As of Saturday night, the trade had not been announced. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that multiple executives and an Arizona player source expected Harrison to land with the Houston Texans, according to a Pro Football Rumors roundup. Houston entered Week 5 at 0-4, per Sports Illustrated.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reported that the package would include a 2028 second-round pick and a late-round pick, with no Texans receivers going to Arizona. Wilson also reported that Houston wants that second-round pick to come in 2028 rather than 2027, a detail described as a possible sticking point. The Las Vegas Raiders were also reported to have shown interest.
Harrison has been told he will be inactive for Arizona’s home game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Yahoo Sports reported.
Did the Ravens try to trade for Harrison?
There is no official word from the team. Sports Illustrated’s Jason La Canfora reported Saturday that multiple GMs believe Baltimore was involved in Harrison’s market to some degree.
“We hear they explored it.”
An unnamed NFL general manager, to Sports Illustrated’s Jason La Canfora, Oct. 10, 2026
The same GM said Harrison was “probably going to Houston.” Exploring a trade is not the same as making an offer, and nothing reported so far shows how close the Ravens came.
The team’s own reporters had been skeptical. In a Sept. 30 mailbag on BaltimoreRavens.com, senior writer Clifton Brown said he did not think the Ravens were prioritizing a receiver trade and did not expect Harrison to end up in Baltimore if he was moved.
Why are the Cardinals moving a No. 4 overall pick?
Harrison, 24, had nearly 900 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie. His role has shrunk in his third season: he has five catches for 85 yards and one touchdown in four games, according to Yahoo Sports and Sports Illustrated.
ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reported that Harrison recently hired new agents and missed a Cardinals team meeting Saturday. He is under contract through 2027, and the team that acquires him can keep him through 2028 with the fifth-year option.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 2024 | Arizona drafts Harrison No. 4 overall out of Ohio State |
| Sept. 30, 2026 | BaltimoreRavens.com mailbag says a Harrison trade to Baltimore is unlikely |
| Oct. 10, 2026 | Reports say Arizona is finalizing a trade; GMs tell SI the Ravens explored it |
| Oct. 10, 2026 (night) | ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Houston is the expected destination |
| Oct. 11, 2026 | Harrison expected to be inactive vs. Detroit |
| Nov. 10, 2026 | NFL trade deadline, per Sports Illustrated |
What does this mean for the Ravens’ receivers?
Baltimore’s passing game runs through Zay Flowers. The Ravens’ Week 5 preview said offensive coordinator Declan Doyle wants the ball in Flowers’ hands no matter who plays quarterback. In the Sept. 30 mailbag, Brown also pointed to contributions from Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker, Chris Moore and LaJohntay Wester, with rookie Ja’Kobi Lane adding depth once he returns from injury.
The bigger short-term question is at quarterback. Lamar Jackson is dealing with an ankle injury, and Tyler Huntley is in line to start Sunday at 8:20 p.m. against the 2-2 Falcons. We covered what Huntley’s record as a starter says about the matchup.
With Harrison apparently headed elsewhere, any Ravens receiver move before the deadline would likely involve a different target. Fox Sports has reported that league executives expect a handful of standout receivers to be trade targets, but no Baltimore-specific deal has been reported.
What is Harrison’s Maryland connection?
Harrison faced Maryland while at Ohio State, including a November 2022 game in College Park, where the photo above was taken during warmups. His Ohio State quarterback was C.J. Stroud, now Houston’s starter, which is one reason the Texans fit has drawn so much attention. The Buckeyes’ 45-16 win over the Terps on Saturday is one reason “Maryland vs. Ohio State” is also trending in Maryland; see our look at Maryland’s bowl chances.
There is a Baltimore history footnote, too. His father, Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, spent his entire NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts, the franchise that left Baltimore in 1984.
What happens next?
Expect the trade to become official early this week if the remaining details are resolved, Sports Illustrated reported. Until the NFL processes it and both teams announce it, the deal can still change. For the Ravens, the next checkpoint is Sunday night in Atlanta and Jackson’s ankle, not Harrison.
Featured image: Marvin Harrison Jr. catches a pass during warmups before Ohio State’s 2022 game at Maryland. Photo: Alexander Jonesi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.