Adam Schefter did not announce a deal. He did something more interesting: he let the idea breathe. Asked on The Pat McAfee Show whether the Indianapolis Colts made sense for Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Schefter answered with a question of his own: “Wouldn’t that make sense?”
He also indicated the Colts have been making calls about Harrison and that several teams are doing due diligence. That is a long way from a done trade, but it is not nothing. I think Indianapolis should push this one.
What We Know About Harrison Right Now
Harrison is 24, born in August 2002, and still on the four-year rookie contract he signed in May 2024 with Arizona. That deal was reported at $35.3 million fully guaranteed. Whether the Cardinals would pick up a fifth-year option is a question that will shape his value, and no team has said anything on that publicly.
The production has not matched the pedigree. He caught 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie, then 41 for 608 and four scores in 12 games last year before landing on injured reserve in January. Through Week 4 this season, one report lists him at 5 catches, 85 yards and a touchdown. I could only find that line in a single outlet, so treat it as approximate.
Why Indianapolis Fits
The Colts need bodies at receiver. Josh Downs leads the team with 17 catches for 202 yards, and depth took a hit with Alec Pierce’s injury. A big, polished route runner who has been under-used is exactly the kind of upside swing a contender with a thin room should take.
Then there is the name. His father, Marvin Harrison Sr., spent his entire Hall of Fame career in Indianapolis. That does not move a trade call by itself, and the Colts front office will not pay extra for nostalgia. It does make the story easy to sell to a fan base that wants a reason to show up.
What a Deal Would Cost
Here is where I push back on the hype. An NFL Blue Book survey of seven front offices put his value somewhere between a late second-round pick and a third-rounder plus a later pick. One executive in that piece said Harrison does not play with much urgency on tape. Another saw his struggles as a product of the Arizona environment.
That split is the whole debate. If the Colts can get him for a third and change, I do it without hesitation. A second-rounder for a player with a down year and a concerning tape grade is where I walk away.
Indianapolis is also not the only name in the mix. The same survey floated Houston, Buffalo, Kansas City, New England, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas as possible fits. Competition keeps the price from dropping.
My read: a trade is realistic, and Indianapolis is a smart landing spot. Arizona has to decide whether it wants a modest return now or a better look at him later. Neither side has commented publicly on talks, so everything beyond Schefter’s two words is inference.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.