Why can’t Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and quarterback Kyler Murray seem to click?
When the Cardinals drafted Harrison with the No. 4 pick, they hoped he and Murray would form an elite tandem. However, the QB acknowledged that has yet to happen.
“Yeah, we’ve gotta get better,” Murray said Tuesday, per PHNX Sports’ Bo Brack. “It’s not where he wants it to be, where I want it to be, where the team needs it to be. Again, I haven’t lost any confidence. I’m excited for these next two weeks.”
In 15 games, Harrison has 51 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdown catches. Those aren’t horrendous numbers, but other rookie wideouts have outproduced the former Ohio State Buckeye.
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. has 73 receptions for 1,088 yards and nine TD catches in 15 games. Chargers WR Ladd McConkey has 69 receptions for 960 yards and five TD catches in 14 games.
Throughout the draft process, Harrison was deemed a generational prospect. Perhaps the WR was overhyped, or Murray and the coaching staff aren’t jelling.
“A few weeks ago, I mentioned that there seems to be a disconnect between Kyler Murray and Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing,” Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano wrote in a Tuesday column. “It showed on the field, and not much has changed since the crushing blown lead against the Minnesota Vikings and the two losses in three weeks against the Seattle Seahawks.”
The Cardinals started 6-4 but have lost four of their past five games and been eliminated from playoff contention. During this stretch, Murray has more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (four) and has posted a below-average 80.2 passer rating.
Manzano suggested the Cardinals should bring in competition for Murray in 2025, but that seems unlikely. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick signed a five-year, $230.5M deal in 2022. Plus, the 2025 NFL Draft isn’t considered a deep QB class.
Still, Murray’s recent slide may raise questions about whether he’s the right guy for the Cardinals. The QB needs a strong finish to quiet these concerns.
On Saturday, the Cardinals will play the Los Angeles Rams (9-6) in a road game at 8 p.m. ET. L.A.’s 18th-ranked pass defense (219.7 YPG) should make the matchup favorable for Murray.
