Arizona Cardinals underwhelming first round pick called 'building block' of team

Expectations are no longer vague in Arizona. The Cardinals are entering a pivotal year — one that could determine the future of both head coach Jonathan Gannon and quarterback Kyler Murray. And while there’s pressure at the top, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes there’s no doubt about who the Cardinals are building around going forward: Marvin Harrison Jr.

Moton says Harrison is “the building block” for the Cardinals, even after a rookie year that some considered underwhelming based on his collegiate dominance. As the only player in Ohio State history to top 1,000 receiving yards in multiple seasons, Harrison arrived in the NFL with immense hype. But in his first year as a pro, he caught just 62 passes for 885 yards — though he still tied for second among rookies with eight touchdown receptions.

That’s where the optimism begins for Year 2.

“Harrison has bulked up, and he's ready to outmuscle defenders for 50-50 balls thrown his way,” Moton wrote. “Moreover, Kyler Murray knows he must develop a stronger rapport with Harrison. They will be one of the league's most dynamic quarterback-receiver duos in 2025.”

There’s no question Harrison flashed the elite traits that made him a top-five pick. But Arizona needs more than flashes now — especially with Gannon entering his third season and Murray under pressure to finally deliver a playoff berth in his seventh.

“The Cardinals are expecting Harrison to ‘make a jump’ this upcoming season after some struggles as a rookie,” The Athletic’s Doug Haller wrote earlier this offseason. “To make the playoffs in Year 3, the Cardinals will need Harrison to turn into the No. 1 receiver everyone expected.”

That means cracking the 1,000-yard mark, upping his catch rate (just 53.4% in 2024), and proving he can take over games — just as he did so often at Ohio State.

If Harrison hits those benchmarks, there’s a belief the Cardinals’ passing attack could explode. Tight end Trey McBride already broke out last season with 111 receptions for 1,146 yards. If Murray and Harrison connect more consistently, Arizona could feature two 1,100-yard pass-catchers for the first time in franchise history.

MORE: Cardinals’ playoff hopes said to hinge on Marvin Harrison Jr. living up to the hype

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin recently called Harrison “a not-so-quiet candidate for monster numbers out wide.”

That level of production may be necessary for a franchise in desperate need of a turnaround. Arizona hasn’t reached the postseason since 2021 and hasn’t won the NFC West since 2015. A failure to make the playoffs in 2025 could trigger major changes, including at quarterback and head coach.

As Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon pointed out, that scenario could just as easily be flipped — if Murray and Harrison click.

“The trajectory is there for Murray and Harrison to make strides as their supporting cast improves in an increasingly weak division,” Gagnon wrote. “They’ll pull off a sneaky division title for the first time since 2015.”

If that happens, Harrison’s rise from rookie growing pains to elite WR1 won’t just be a nice bonus — it will be the reason the Cardinals saved their season.