GLENDALE — With Marvin Harrison Jr. traded out of Arizona, former Cardinals general manager Steve Keim believes the club could have handled the situation differently before deciding to make the deal.
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) walks off the field after the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Cardinals traded their former No. 4 overall draft pick to the Houston Texans after weeks of speculation and uneven production from the wide receiver. Keim believes the team could have explored another option before trading Harrison: making a change at the starting quarterback position.
The former general manager suggested in an Instagram story that the club should have started rookie Carson Beck and built around a “big four” of Beck, Harrison, Mack Wilson Sr. and Jeremiyah Love. Keim wrote that there needed to be a “body of work” before making decisions about the future of the franchise.
Steve Keim chimes in on the MHJ trade and what he would’ve done 👀 https://t.co/6atPfq1lba
— K1SinceDay1 (@KSzn2021) October 13, 2026
Ultimately, we’ll never know what those four could have accomplished together now that Harrison is out of the picture. Giving Beck an opportunity to start before the trade could have allowed the Cardinals to evaluate his chemistry with Harrison and determine whether the two young players could develop into key pieces of the team’s future.
Would starting Beck have prevented the trade? Maybe, maybe not. There is no guarantee that a change at quarterback would have changed anything, but giving the rookie a chance could have provided the organization with more information before deciding on the wide receiver’s future.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) warms up before their game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 20, 2026. Credit: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Keim has previously stated that Beck should receive some playing time, especially as the club goes through a four-game skid. While no one in the organization has indicated that major changes are coming, head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters Monday that there would be discussions about moving the rookie quarterback to the active roster rather than keeping him as an emergency third quarterback.
Whether Beck gets that opportunity remains to be seen, but the situation raises questions about whether the Cardinals made their decision on Harrison too soon. The opportunity to see Beck and Harrison develop together is gone, leaving the Cardinals to move forward with questions about what might have been.
Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) looks back at quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) against the Seattle Seahawks during a game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. on Sept. 20, 2026. Credit: Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
Cardinals fans are ready to see rookie QB Carson Beck get a chance
