N’Keal Harry attended Patriots minicamp but has since made a trade request. The former first-round pick, however, remains under contract for two more years in New England.
The third-year wide receiver and the Patriots continue to hold talks about this matter, according to veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson, who adds Harry is expected to attend training camp (Twitter link). It would have been quite surprising if Harry were a no-show, given the $50K-per-day fines for holdouts.
New England has received interest on Harry this offseason, with Washington being a team that has inquired about the ex-Arizona State prospect’s status. Thus far, the Patriots have been linked to landing a fifth- or sixth-round pick for Harry — were they to unload him. A team acquiring Harry would be buying low. The Pats paid Harry’s $5.3MM signing bonus; an acquiring team would have only Harry’s base salaries — $1.41MM in 2021, $1.87MM in 2022 — on its books.
Harry has been in trade rumors for more than four months, even before the Pats signed Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. While Harry’s draft status is more indicative of a No. 1 wide receiver than what Agholor or Bourne have shown in their NFL careers, he has not come close to justifying it and sits behind UDFA Jakobi Meyers among Patriot wideouts. New tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry also surpassed Harry in the Pats’ aerial pecking order this offseason.
The Pats have a history of trading first-rounders while on their rookie deals during Bill Belichick‘s run. They unloaded Chandler Jones and running back Laurence Maroney after four seasons and dealt disappointing defensive lineman Dominique Easley after two. Harry’s profile certainly veers closer to Easley’s. If the Patriots cannot find a trade partner, they may be prepared to waive Harry. The Patriots have only cut one first-rounder over the course of his rookie contract (Brandon Meriweather in 2011).
‘The Pats have a history of trading first-rounders while on their rookie deals during Bill Belichick‘s run.’
That’s polite way of saying Bill screws up the draft quite a bit.
Or covers up his mistakes as best he can. Many teams hold on to mistakes for too long and then get nothing back
I hear ya, but going from a 1st round pick & 2 years in the league to getting a 5th or 6th round pick is not much of a return.
No doubt but you can’t hit on every pick and it’s smart to move on and get that 5th or 6th than to continue to try to fit the square peg in the round hole.
Or you avoid the draft crapshoot altogether like George Allen liked to do and get yourself some seasoned veterans.
Sounds like the Rams of today!
Vikes should send a 7th rounder.
Won’t get it done I ll give up a fifth or sixth. We need a wr3
badly
Washington actually would be interesting as a destination. Harry should be playing outside and grabbing fifty-fifty jump balls, ideally. Whomever picks him shouldn’t use him as a backup or third or fourth slot receiver, but his struggles in the pros make that a difficult proposition if you have anyone established playing ahead of him. Hardy still has time to prove himself as an NFL talent, but he will need to go somewhere where he can play his natural role without displacing a better receiver. Washington is one of the few places where he could justifiably be played.
The Redskins already have a deep bench of good and high potential WR. Not sure N’Keal Harry would be guaranteed to make the team. Trading more than a fifth would be playing fast and loose with future rookie classes and rookie contracts. Probably should pass at more than a sixth.
I agree with your estimate of compensation for the most part, but I don’t really see how Washington’s current depth includes anyone more promising than Harry outside. Their only semi-proven receiver, MacLaurin, excels in the slot. Harry will play outside, and Washington is wide open in terms of determining who their vertical receiver will be.
Sims has been far too inconsistent to make me personally say that he’ll be reliable in that role. I think adding a former first rounder for a fifth or possibly even a fourth or lower would not be bad. You won’t, in all likelihood, get too much more for your average fifth or below rounded receiver than you’d get from a semi-experienced current player with promising athleticism and disappointing production. I think Washington could take a chance on a cheap athletic talent to compete with their current uninspiring receiving corps.
I’m very surprised he doesn’t want to play with the pats. You would think the duo of hoyer and beli would be attractive. Great situation for him to develop.
Hoyer! Dude still has a cannon. Lol.
Hoyer getting tossed around & sacked by the Chiefs, calling for a timeout when there wasn’t one, and costing the team a field goal attempt will be one of the worst plays I’ve ever seen.
Ya pats would have won that game were it not for Hoyer
His agent claims he has a lack of opportunity in NE. Where else would he have the chance to stand out as a true #1 receiver? The Pats don’t currently have a true #1. They have a couple of 2’s and a couple of 3’s and a bunch of others hoping to make the roster. If he can’t get a job here, where does he think it’s an easier road??
This
Because he knows NE doesn’t have a viable QB?
Or gee. Could it be he’s not a viable receiver?
I guess there would be a spot on the depth chart in Arizona for Harry if the great one retires.
I was thinking the same lol, but before the Green trade. Green, Hopkins, and Harry all play the same role, and though Keim loves grabbing names, he’d have a hard time justifying adding Harry right now and taking snaps from.a better receiver for him.
I could see Harry having a role in Philly, or strangely enough, in Seattle. Wilson is the best deep ball thrower as of right now in the NFL, which gives Harry a chance to fight for the ball. Lockett also plays best in the slot (though he is good anywhere), true to the long line of slot guys in Seattle.
The Seahawks haven’t traditionally played many tall receivers, but those they have have had good moments. Harry could end up one of them. I could also see him in New York (Giants), had they not just spent all of that money upgrading the receiving options there. But wherever Hardy goes, he’ll need to have an opening outside to take over or compete for if he’s going to have chance at turning his career around.
If Quinn/Patricia were still in Detroit, this deal would have already been done and for a 3rd round pick.
With the talent Harry has displayed, anything less than 5 1st round picks would be an insult