Kyler Murray, Cardinals coaches praise a more 'comfortable' Marvin Harrison Jr.

When you’re simultaneously the son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver, as well as one of the most complete wide receiver prospects in the history of college football, your eventual NFL debut is going to be met with high expectations. In Marvin Harrison Jr.’s case, these expectations were so high that it would’ve been nearly impossible for the namesake of the Indianapolis Colts legend to meet them.

During his rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals, Harrison Jr. caught 62 passes for 885 yards and 8 touchdowns, yet coming away from his first year in the NFL, there was a feeling that the former Ohio State standout had underperformed.

The fact that four different pass-catchers from the 2024 Draft class topped the 1,000 yard mark didn’t help Harrison Jr.’s cause, but when you compare his numbers to his father’s rookie season -– 64 receptions, 836 yards, 8 touchdowns – they’re so similar that it makes you wonder whether there is any reason for legitimate concern.

Even still, as Harrison Jr. enters his second season with the Cardinals, he’s spent the offseason bulking up and getting more comfortable with both the intricacies of the Cardinals offense and the speed of the pro game. And everyone in Arizona seems to be noticing a difference.

“Only he understood how fast the game was moving, and each week, obviously, I hoped it slowed down for him. But now he's at the point where he's definitely more comfortable, and I can see it out there on the field,” Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. “I think that'll only allow him to play faster, be the guy that we all know he can be."

If Harrison can effectively play faster, processing the nuances of the position and the looks opposing defenses will be throwing at Arizona all season long, it unlocks him in a way that Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing would rightfully be very excited about.

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"I think if you look at his skillset, there's not a lot of things I'm going to tell you he can't do," Petzing said. "So, stretch the field, play underneath, playing the slot, move around the formation, play outside -- I think that's what makes him so dynamic."

It took until year four before Marvin Harrison Sr. logged his first 1,000 yard season in the NFL, so Cardinals fans should be patient. But with that said, it would come as a big surprise if Jr. didn’t reach that mark even sooner.