Are the New Orleans Saints making a big move at wide receiver? With rookie first-round pick Jordyn Tyson still on injured reserve and little production to show from the receivers behind Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele, it could be worth weighing their options. Maybe the Saints are the mystery team landing Marvin Harrison Jr. in a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.
Multiple reports Saturday morning said that Harrison will be inactive for Sunday's game with the Detroit Lions while Arizona finalizes a trade to send him elsewhere. The fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft is on the move, but what no one seems to know is where he's going. Whether the Cardinals have a deal in place or are just trying to bait a better offer from another suitor remains to be seen.
ESPN's Adam Schefter added that the Cardinals front office had told teams "it wanted first-round value in return for Harrison, the former No. 4 overall pick." That lined up with a previous report from Tom Pelissero for The Ringer, who shared that "Other teams that have spoken to the Cardinals say Arizona would want a second-round draft pick and more—perhaps an additional mid-round pick—to consider dealing Harrison."
That would be a lot to pay for a receiver averaging just 21.3 yards per game this season, but Harrison has been dealt a bad hand in Arizona. He's had to navigate a couple of different offenses without a sure thing at quarterback. The hope, for whichever team is acquiring him, is that a stable situation can help him play his best football.
Just don't bet on the Saints being the ones to get him. Even though Harrison has a mentor in place -- he was teammates with Chris Olave on the Ohio State Buckeyes back in 2021 -- New Orleans is just not in a position to go for broke after losing three of their first four games. They should be holding onto their draft picks ahead of the NFL trade deadline in November. If they do feel like they can make a move, it should be to upgrade a defense in need of playmakers at all three levels. Harrison would be a fun pickup, but he isn't one they can afford.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Could the Saints be the mystery team trading for Marvin Harrison Jr.?
