Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray prepares to take snaps during the last practice until preseason camp. (Photo by Shirell Washington/Cronkite News)
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon leads the team through practice at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe. (Photo by Shirell Washington/Cronkite News)
TEMPE – All eyes were on Marvin Harrison Jr. as the Arizona Cardinals kicked off minicamp.
The Cardinals ran through the first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday. After an exciting offseason, headlined with the selection of Harrison Jr. at No. 4 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the young wide receiver was the center of attention.
“You are definitely out there in the fire, but it’s been fun, it’s been exciting,” Harrison said. “It’s just football at the end of the day. I think when you take a chance to take a step back and realize you are out there just living the dream, something you’ve always dreamed of doing, and I can be that every single day.
“I try not to put too much pressure on myself, just go out there, be me and just relax.”
With quarterback Kyler Murray sidelined for the first half of the season last season, coach Jonathan Gannon was thrown many challenges during his first year in the role. The Cardinals finished in last place in the NFC West last season with a 4-13 record, but with upset victories over the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, there was a lot to build on going into year two at the helm.
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride catches a pass during practice. The Cardinals’ offseason has been free of drama and contract holdouts. (Photo by Shirell Washington/Cronkite News)
“I think that we’ve learned a lot, myself and the staff, and hopefully that makes us a better team,” Gannon said. “That’s what it comes down to, winning and losing, right? I want to make sure our process is right, we are doing everything we can from a development standpoint for the players so they can have success. That’s the role of a coach.”
A key difference going into the 2024 season is the addition of the true No. 1 receiver that Harrison is expected to be. For the majority of his career, Murray has had that threat in DeAndre Hopkins, but after Hopkins’ release from the team going into the 2023 season, a void was felt in the Cardinals’ offense last year.
Second-year receiver Michael Wilson has no doubts with the talent that Harrison possesses.
“Just based on these couple of practices that I’ve been out there with (Harrison), I would anticipate him to continue his college production to the NFL,” Wilson said. “I think his presence is going to help a lot because he’s one of those receivers where, whatever role you give him, he can be one of the best in the league at that role.
“I’m raving about him because he doesn’t really have a weakness in his game.”
While attending Ohio State University, Harrison was a two-time All-American and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s top receiver. The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., success runs deep for the Cardinals’ presumed top weapon.
On the opposite side of the football, Cardinals second-year cornerback Garrett Williams has been very impressed by the rookie receiver this offseason.
“You look at his height, and then you look at his movement ability, those two things usually don’t match up like that,” Williams said. “For him to do it and make everything look so easily, the ball tracking ability, he’s everything people said he is.”
Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, left, and wide receiver Xavier Weaver run drills despite the excessive heat warning and 109 degrees temperature. (Photo by Shirell Washington/Cronkite News)
Wilson emphasized the work that the receivers room has done with Murray this offseason outside of the practice facility. The long hours have forced him to miss attending the games of his girlfriend, Sofia Smith, who plays for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, but the time was a worthwhile investment.
“The thing that I’m most excited for and most proud about was continuing to build my rapport with Kyler,” Wilson said. “I’ve stayed here almost every single weekend throughout this whole OTAs specifically so I can train with K1.
“I told my girlfriend, ‘I’m not coming to Portland. I’m staying here so we can work on my relationship with Kyler.’”
As the Cardinals head toward the break between minicamp and the start of training camp on July 23, the team is eager to improve on its 2023 campaign.
One thing is clear, Harrison Jr. is not one to shy away from the bright lights of the NFL.
“Coming in, you just want to get respect of the people who have been here before you, no matter where you were drafted or anything like that,” Harrison Jr. said.
“I think they’ve kind of allowed me to go up front now because they understand what I can bring to the team.”
