Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is looking a little different entering Year 2.
“I definitely put on some pounds,” Harrison said to reporters during Monday’s press conference at the Cardinals offseason workouts. “I added some muscle to my body.”
A bulked-up Harrison is hoping the added muscle will help him during his sophomore season.
“Football is a physical game. A lot of contested situations,” Harrison explained. “As well as you got to receive contested catch situations, run after the catch and things like that.”
Expectations were high for Harrison as soon as he stepped foot in the NFL. He was the first wide receiver selected in the 2024 NFL Draft when the Cardinals picked him No. 4 overall. He compiled 62 receptions, 885 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie.
His numbers were certainly good. But they fell short of the top wide receiver prospect expectations attached to him. He finished fifth among rookies in receptions and receiving yards.
There were times where Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and Harrison didn’t appear on the same page, which contributed to him tallying only two games of over 100 receiving yards in his first year. Arizona’s passing offense ranked in the bottom half of the league and the club finished the regular season with an 8-9 record.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Harrison said. “For me, every season no matter how it goes, I’m always looking to improve and get better for next season.”
Harrison told reporters he has another level he can unlock this year as he’s grown more accustomed to the NFL.
“I definitely do have a switch I can switch on more probably next year,” Harrison said. “I think that just comes with being comfortable playing the game, playing at the speed of the NFL and things like that.”
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is certainly of the mindset Harrison is going to make a leap in Year 2. Gannon appeared on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio this offseason and said he’s “excited” for the step Harrison takes in 2025.
‘When the staff is in place, the jump from Year 1 to Year 2, I think that’s where guys make a huge jump,’ Gannon said. ‘This guy played unbelievable ball for us, but if you talk to him, he’d be the first to tell you, like, ‘I need to get better at these couple things,’ and, man, he has went to work on them. He has went to work on them. He looks awesome out there right now. I’m really excited to see where his game goes.’
Gannon continued, ‘I’m not gonna speak truth into the universe but just wait until this guy plays this year.’
The Cardinals have finished last in the NFC West in two of the past three years. Arizona hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2021. They certainly can use a breakout year from their No. 1 wide receiver.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
