Marvin Harrison Jr. gives initial impressions of pairing with Kyler Murray

Marvin Harrison Jr. is staying in red after the former star, Ohio State wide receiver is heading out to play for the Arizona Cardinals after being the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That also means a new quarterback to catch passes from in Kyler Murray, the franchise’s starter the last five years after being the No. 1 pick in 2019.

In a conversation with SiriusXM NFL Radio after his selection on Thursday, Harrison Jr. said he had spoken to Murray during his process. He just hadn’t yet since he went off the board in the draft that night.

“I have talked to Kyler. Not today but I’ve talked to Kyler,” Harrison Jr. said.

“You know, I mean, like I said, I haven’t talked to him since my visit, Top-30 visit,” said Harrison Jr..

However, in the conversations he did have with him, Harrison Jr. got his feel for the kind of player he’d be connecting with in Murray. He shared that he’s ready to play alongside someone who wants to win as badly his starting quarterback does.

“I love who he is,” Harrison Jr. said. “He’s a great competitor, really smart guy.”

“I think he just loves to win,” said Harrison Jr.. “He really wants to win so it’s exciting to play with a quarterback like that.”

Murray has played in 65 games in his pro career with the Cardinals. However, he has missed sizable portions of the past two years after tearing his ACL.

In that time, he has thrown for 15,647 yards for 94 touchdowns and 46 interceptions on 66.6% completion. He has also rushed for 2,448 yards and 24 more scores on the ground. That production has led to a career record of just 28-36-1, even though he won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and made the Pro Bowl in each of his two seasons afterward.

Coming off the injury in 2023, Murray threw for one yard shy of 1,800 in his eight appearances for 10 scores and five picks on 65.7% completion.

Murray has had several different weapons while with Arizona from Larry Fitzgerald to DeAndre Hopkins. Now, Harrison Jr. arrives to potentially be the next to be that for him with the Cardinals.

Harrison Jr.’s rookie contract figures with Arizona Cardinals revealed

Following the No. 4 overall selection of Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, his rookie contract numbers have been revealed.

According to Spotrac, Harrison Jr. will sign a fully-guaranteed, four-year deal worth $35.3 million. That contract includes a $22.5 million signing bonus along with a fifth-year option in 2028.

The first non-quarterback to be selected during the 2024 NFL Draft, Harrison Jr. is expected to immediately contribute to the Cardinals’ offensive unit. He is also the first wide receiver the Cardinals have selected in the top five since Larry Fitzgerald in 2004.

Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort explained why this was the perfect fit for Harrison in Arizona.

“We’ve done a lot of work on him,” Ossenfort said via the Cardinals’ team page. “Marvin is everything we’re looking for. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s a good route runner, he catches the ball, he separates. And on top of that, he’s a great person.”