{"id":32682,"date":"2025-05-08T03:26:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T03:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/32682\/"},"modified":"2025-05-08T03:26:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T03:26:13","slug":"marvin-harrison-jr-pegged-as-a-year-2-breakout-candidate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/32682\/","title":{"rendered":"Marvin Harrison Jr. pegged as a Year 2 breakout candidate"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. didn\u2019t hit the eschelon many expected him to reach as a rookie in 2024.<\/p>\n

While he managed to snag eight touchdowns \u2014 good enough to tie for the 13th most in the NFL \u2014 Harrison\u2019s 885 receiving yards and 62 catches were far from eye-popping.<\/p>\n

But with more time on task with quarterback Kyler Murray and a full NFL offseason that doesn\u2019t include any sort of NFL Draft process, NFL.com\u2019s Marc Ross<\/a> has Harrison as one of his 10 second-year breakout candidates.<\/p>\n

(He exceeded) 90 receiving yards in just three games while being held to fewer than 40 seven times. The offense struggled with consistency in 2024, and the chemistry between Kyler Murray and his No. 1 receiver was not where it needed to be, something they are trying to improve this offseason. \u2026 With a full NFL season and offseason now under Harrison\u2019s belt, it certainly feels like we will see a different version of the 2024 fourth overall pick this fall.<\/p>\n

Why Marvin Harrison Jr. is poised for a breakout season<\/p>\n

Ross\u2019 thinking isn\u2019t all that farfetched, especially given what Murray said<\/a> about the wide receiver while on with the Cardinals Corner podcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor him to have eight touchdowns and feel like he didn\u2019t even scratch the surface, I think that\u2019s saying something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has all the confidence in the world in WR Marvin Harrison Jr. and what they can accomplish.<\/p>\n

Full episode: https:\/\/t.co\/E1yBK4GOOh<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9DSbaaCS2k<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) April 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFor him to have eight touchdowns and feel like he didn\u2019t even scratch the surface, that\u2019s saying something,\u201d Murray said in April.<\/a> \u201cObviously, me and him have to be better and we will be better. But I loved where he was mentally at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing more open, being more comfortable with the guys in the locker room, being more comfortable with me, being more comfortable just to speak his mind within the receiving room with (Israel Woolfork and Drew Terrell).\u201d<\/p>\n

With more chemistry between the two, that should translate to more consistent showings on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

Getting more out of others in the wide receivers room could also help take some of the eyes off Harrison.<\/p>\n

While Arizona\u2019s WR2 Michael Wilson nearly turned in a full season of health, his numbers didn\u2019t change all that much:<\/p>\n

Year 1: 38 catches for 565 yards and three TDs in 13 games<\/p>\n

Year 2: 47 catches for 548 yards and four TDs in 16 games<\/p>\n

Slot man Greg Dortch set a new career high in scores with three but splits time as a returner.<\/p>\n

Zay Jones has shown he can be effective in the receiving game throughout his time in the NFL but has yet to really flash that in Arizona.<\/p>\n

Free agent addition Simi Fehoko hasn\u2019t caught more than six passes in a single season and undrafted signings Xavier Weaver and Bryson Green have a depth chart to climb.<\/p>\n

If someone can emerge as a legit third option behind Harrison and tight end Trey McBride in the passing game, things could open up that much more for the second-year pro.<\/p>\n

But whether that happens or not, head coach Jonathan Gannon remains confident in the wideout\u2019s potential in Year 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to speak truth into the universe, but just wait until this guy plays this year.\u201d@AZCardinals<\/a> HC Jonathan Gannon talks about a potential year 2 leap for Marvin Harrison Jr. with @AdamSchein<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd17 https:\/\/t.co\/jP0HFpEWEm<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yvUy6rKxOi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mad Dog Sports Radio (@MadDogRadio) April 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe guy\u2019s a ready-made pro. He does all the right things,\u201d Gannon told Adam Schein on SiriusXM\u2019s Mad Dog Sports Radio last week. \u201cHe was here the whole offseason. He skipped out one week, he went and trained with a bunch of different receivers, but he was here the whole offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he added a little bit of muscle mass. He looks a little bit bigger. All his numbers, his metrics are all better than when we got him. I\u2019m not going to speak truth into the universe but just wait until this guy plays this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Follow @Tdrake4sports<\/a><\/p>\n

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