Former NFL scout John Middlekauff believes that Marvin Harrison Jr. had fallen out of favor with the Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff before his trade to the Houston Texans, and he questioned the receiver’s effort.
The Cardinals sent Harrison, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Houston for 2027 second- and seventh-round picks in a deal the team announced on Monday. Middlekauff, a former Philadelphia Eagles scout, also weighed in on that price and on Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort.
John Middlekauff Says Arizona Cardinals Staff Soured on Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison caught five passes on 13 targets for 85 yards and one touchdown in four games with Arizona this season. Pro Football Network’s NFL WR Impact Grade had him at 69.5 for his Week 4 game against the New York Giants, 54th of 65 graded wide receivers that week.
Ossenfort said in a statement Monday that the decision was not an easy one and that the Cardinals had to do what was best for the team, and he thanked Harrison for his contributions. However, Middlekauff offered his own read on why Arizona moved on.
“The coaching staff had clearly turned on him; they couldn’t stand him,” Middlekauff said. “And you ask yourself, why do you think they couldn’t stand him? Just because hands are a little questionable? Or because of the effort?”
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Clips that went viral earlier this season, showing Harrison not giving full effort on blocks, drew questions about his commitment.
Asked why his time in Arizona did not work out, Harrison said there were many factors and that he always wants to hold himself accountable. Middlekauff, for his part, framed his concerns around toughness.
“We talk toughness a lot, like line of scrimmage, linebackers, running backs lowering their shoulder. We don’t often do it with wide receivers,” he added. “And the one thing you see consistently to all the top guys in the NFL is like, lot of dogs, you know?”
Harrison joins a Texans receiver group led by Nico Collins, who had five catches for 56 yards in Sunday’s 26-3 win over the Tennessee Titans. Middlekauff held Harrison up against Collins.
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“You watch Nico Collins play, I don’t think anyone questions, like, does he even care that much? And I think that’s a major question with Marvin Harrison,” Middlekauff added.
The critique extended to Harrison’s hands as well: “So it’s like, wait, you don’t have the greatest hands. You don’t play that hard. What are you hanging your hat on?”
Middlekauff Says Harrison’s Texans Future Will Judge Monti Ossenfort
Harrison left Arizona with 108 catches for 1,578 yards and 13 touchdowns in 33 games. He caught 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, then 41 for 608 yards and four scores in 2025. Middlekauff weighed that output against what Houston gave up.
“His NFL career has been extremely underwhelming. When I saw the Houston Texans give up a second-round pick, I went, ‘I think that’s pretty insane.'”
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Texans general manager Nick Caserio and Ossenfort worked together in the New England Patriots’ personnel department for more than a decade, a connection Middlekauff also cited.
As for how the trade will be remembered, Middlekauff looked ahead. “If he does take off, it’ll be a poor reflection of the Arizona Cardinals. If he doesn’t, it was absolute fleecing by Monti Ossenfort.”
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Harrison will make his Houston debut Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The Texans and Cardinals are both 1-4, and Arizona is visiting the Los Angeles Rams that same day.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.