As the Dolphins keep hunting for young talent in their rebuild, the usual pattern has been pretty clear: find the overlooked player, the unpolished prospect, the guy who needs a chance. But a very different kind of swing could eventually land in front of them - one involving a former top-five pick who has not come close to meeting expectations.
That player is Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of the Hall of Fame receiver, and Jeremy Fowler reported in a weekly ESPN buzz story that teams are watching the Arizona Cardinals in case they decide to explore a trade. One team told Fowler there would be a market for Harrison, though maybe only at the level of a "quality Day 3 pick," which would amount to something like a fourth-rounder.
That kind of price would make the conversation pretty easy for Miami. Harrison was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and even after his struggles, the idea of buying low on a player with that draft pedigree is hard to ignore. He came out of Ohio State as a highly regarded, safe prospect, and one evaluator told Fowler that he might simply need a fresh start.
The upside case is obvious: if Harrison rediscovers the version of himself he showed with the Buckeyes, the Dolphins would be getting a major talent at a steep discount. He was considered a great prospect there - not quite in the same class as current Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith, but close.
Money, though, is part of the equation. Harrison’s contract is far more expensive than the type of players Miami has been adding in 2026, with Malik Willis as the exception.
He is in the third year of his rookie deal and is due $4 million and $5.6 million in salary and roster bonus money over the next two seasons. A team that acquires him would also have the option of picking up his fifth-year option for 2028.
Arizona has already paid his $22.5 million signing bonus and remains on the hook for the cap charge tied to it.
Still, the Dolphins have the room to make it work. They have the cap space now, and next year they are looking at roughly $100 million to operate with.
A move like that would also add another young wideout to a group that already includes 2026 draft picks Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. In terms of experience, Harrison could make more immediate sense than taking Smith near the top of the 2027 draft.
The real issue is whether Harrison can be fixed at all, assuming the Cardinals even decide to move him. That evaluation would fall heavily on Jon-Eric Sullivan, and it would need to be a thorough one. If Miami can identify exactly what has gone wrong in Arizona, then the case for a trade becomes a strong one.
If the Dolphins were to land Harrison, it would also likely take Smith out of the equation at the top of next year’s draft. At some point, there would be too much investment in one position.
Joey Porter Jr. was a different kind of case altogether. He was traded this week from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2027 second-round pick and a conditional sixth-round selection, but that move had more to do with a contract standoff than on-field failure. Porter missed the first three games of the season because of what was described as a mysterious back injury, and the stalemate became Dallas’ problem.
The son of former Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, he is in the final year of his rookie deal and wanted an extension. He is a good cover corner with clear No. 1 ability, though not in the same tier as Surtain, Stingley or Gonzalez, and his physical style brings plenty of flags.
There was no sign the Dolphins called about Porter, and that probably worked out fine for them. They did not need the distraction of a midseason contract fight, especially not one that would have cost a premium pick on top of it.
In Other News...
Dolphins Have A Marvin Harrison Jr. Chance They Cant Ignore
Marvin Harrison Jr.s NFL start has been quieter than many expected, but the possibility of a change in scenery is now drawing attention across the league. The Cardinals wide receiver has reportedly landed on the trade radar, and ESPN insiders say teams are keeping tabs on his situation as Arizona weighs its options. For a Dolphins team always looking for more explosive playmakers, the fit is easy to see.
Miamis receiver room could use another high-ceiling target, and Harrison would bring the kind of upside that can change the complexion of an offense. The question is how far the Cardinals are willing to go, since some around the league believe a mid-to-late draft pick could be enough to get a deal done. For the Dolphins, it is the kind of opportunity that does not come around often, even if the price and timing still have to line up. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Rodriguez Is Giving Dolphins Fans A New Reason To Believe
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The buzz has followed him beyond the locker room, with betting markets now treating him like a serious Defensive Rookie of the Year contender. Rodriguez has welcomed the attention, but he has kept the focus on the bigger picture and the kind of team success Miami needs if his early rise is going to mean anything in the long run. For the Dolphins, the encouraging part is not just the numbers, but how quickly he has become someone they can trust in the middle of it all. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Defense Is Teetering On An Embarrassing Piece Of History
Through three games, the Dolphins pass rush has been stuck in place, and the lack of sacks has become impossible to ignore. Miami has not recorded one yet this season, a historically poor start for a defense that was supposed to be a strength, and the problems have shown up in the air as well, with opponents completing passes at an 80.3 percent clip, the worst mark in the league so far.
The next chance to change the conversation comes against the Vikings, who have already allowed nine sacks this season. For Miami, that makes this matchup more than just another early-season test. It is a chance to show the front can finally get home, and to keep the season from drifting toward a stat line no defense wants attached to its name. [Read more 🡒]