New England Patriots
“So who can get through to him on the toughness part of it? And I would say Mike Vrabel would probably be one of the guys who could.”
Marvin Harrison Jr. might be looking for a fresh start elsewhere. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
September 24, 2026 | 7:07 PM
3 minutes to read
The Arizona Cardinals selected wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, just one selection after the Patriots chose Drake Maye out of UNC.
Now, less than three years later, could Harrison be a fit to join Maye’s pass-catching corps in New England?
Despite Harrison’s high draft pedigree and standout collegiate career at Ohio State, the talented wideout hasn’t exactly panned out so far in Arizona.
The son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison has had a slow start to his third year in the NFL ranks, posting just one catch for 33 yards.
A promising rookie campaign in 2024 (62 catches, 885 yards, eight touchdowns) also gave way to some sizable regression in 2025, as he posted 41 catches off 73 targets for 608 yards and four touchdowns.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Cardinals — after making several financial commitments to other players across their offensive personnel — might be willing to move on from Harrison.
“The team signed fellow wide receiver Michael Wilson Jr. to a contract extension this offseason,” Graziano wrote. “They have a new coaching staff and a new offense. Harrison is extension-eligible after this season, and as of now, the Cardinals would have a hard time paying him based on what he’s shown in the league so far. It’s worth watching out for a potential change-of-scenery deal in this case.”
If Harrison is looking for a fresh start, a team like the Patriots could benefit all parties — given that New England could use another promising pass catcher on a wideout corps that is trudging ahead without A.J. Brown for at least another 3-5 weeks (high ankle sprain).
Pairing a 6-foot-3 wideout with impressive tools like Harrison with a QB like Maye could also lead to stronger returns, given that Harrison has primarily had Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett as his signal-callers through his first three years in Arizona.
Harrison could be an effective deep threat in New England, but he also showed a versatile route tree during his time with the Buckeyes and in his rookie year in the NFL.
Speaking on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand” on Thursday, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said football sources have raised a “toughness issue” as the root cause of Harrison’s struggles, even when factoring in his tangible skills.
But, if Harrison is looking to start fresh elsewhere, Breer noted that a head coach like Mike Vrabel — an Ohio State alum who also coached at the school from 2011-13 — could be the right match.
“So who can get through to him on the toughness part of it? And I would say Mike Vrabel would probably be one of the guys who could,” Breer said. “So it’s something I would consider, because I think if they’re [Arizona] willing to give him up for like a Day 3 pick, and you’re talking about.
“I mean, A.J. Brown is — you want him to be your number one [receiver] when he comes back, and then maybe he’s your number one for another year. But then you don’t have an answer beyond that. That’s where it might be worth taking the flyer.”
Even if Harrison hasn’t seen his immense potential translate to the pro game, Breer added that Vrabel’s familiarity with Ohio State and several of the coaches still in place with the program could give him added intel — as well as more resources to try and tap into that upside if New England does try to acquire him.
“Mike Vrabel is going to be privy to the best information on Marvin Harrison because of where he went to school,” Breer said. “So he’s going to be — whatever the goods are on Marvin Harrison. Like Mike Vrabel knows [former Ohio State wide receivers coach / offensive coordinator] Brian Hartline, who was Harrison’s guy at Ohio State. He knows [Ohio State head coach] Ryan Day. He knows everybody in that program.”
There’s no guarantee that the Patriots rolling the dice on a wideout like Harrison would lead to the emergence of another franchise wideout.
But, it might be a risk worth taking for New England, given the reportedly low asking price set by the Cardinals and the need for more help on a banged-up Patriots pass-catching group.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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