GLENDALE – The main talking point for the Arizona Cardinals offense has been the lack of targets for Marvin Harrison Jr. to start the year. In his sophomore season, Harrison has 11 targets for seven catches, 98 receiving yards and one touchdown. The 23-year-old is 54th in receiving yards. T-63rd in targets and 62nd in receptions.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!For a former fourth overall pick, those numbers are disappointing, especially compared to other young receivers. Fellow second-year WR Malik Nabers is currently leading the NFL with 238 receiving yards and 25 targets. Fellow 23-year-old Jaxon Smith-Njiba is second in receiving yards and has more yards than the entire Arizona’s receiving core.
Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) alongside quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Washington Commanders in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The concern surrounding Harrison’s touches is a serious, but QB Kyler Murray, similar to what he stated last year, responded with a discouraging answer.
Cardinals’ Murray on Harrison’s lack of targets:
The “one-ball” excuse becomes harder to believe when compared to other young wide receivers. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s offense is more run-heavy and focused more on using 13 personnel. Despite that, Harrison should still be the focal point of the air attack. The Cardinals already lack depth at the wide receiver position, so why not hammer Harrison’s targets.
Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) alongside quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Last year when Murray was asked about Harrison’s targets after Week 1, it lead to the best game of his career still against the Los Angeles Rams. Harrison got eight targets for four catches, 130 yards and two touchdowns. It illustrated if he gets the targets, then his production will flourish because of his raw ability.
If compared with previous WR1 that Murray has played with, like DeAndre Hopkins, the amount of targets is staggering. In his three seasons in the Valley, Hopkins had two seasons where he averaged 10+ targets a game. The comparison might be unfair because it was a different head coach and offensive coordinator.
May 11, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals players Kyler Murray (left) and Hollywood Brown look on during the first half of game six of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
However, in 2023, Marquise Brown averaged 8.2 targets in games with more than 40+ offensive snaps, while Harrison recorded 7.1 under the same requirements. Brown is an undersize wide receiver, who has only recorded 220 yards since leaving Arizona.
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) and tight end Trey McBride (85) with quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Harrison is 6’4, athletic freak, who just put on 10+ pounds of muscle in the offseason, but he can’t get the same amount of targets as Brown. The one-ball excuse is a tired phrase when other players and teams around the league are disproving it every Week. Murray, Petzing and everyone involved need to take the training wheels off Harrison. Once they do that, the offense will truly unlock to its full potential.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
