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I am surprised Gutekunst, GM for Green Bay Packers, isn't looking to this olive branch in an attempt to help Rodgers cope with the loss of production left by Jake Kumerow's release. Almost equal stat lines...
But by cutting him the Pats would not save any money and would need to pay an extra 2 million in guaranteed money. If I am reading over the cap correctly. So it seems like they would either trade him or keep him as depth and not cut him.As I just mentioned above, NE has been working the phones trying to move Harry since we’ll before the draft. The agent requesting a trade is window dressing at this point. What he should be asking for is his outright release.
They save $1.4M against the cap if they trade him. It sets up the scenario where the Pats trade Harry and a 6th for a 7th in return to get some cap relief.But by cutting him the Pats would not save any money and would need to pay an extra 2 million in guaranteed money. If I am reading over the cap correctly. So it seems like they would either trade him or keep him as depth and not cut him.
Then must mean they like a Harry tight end more than a Harry wide receiver.The Saskatchewan Roughriders are prepared to offer a sixth round draft pick in the 2022 CFL Draft as long as N'Keal Harry is willing to convert to a tight end.
That would be hilarious.They save $1.4M against the cap if they trade him. It sets up the scenario where the Pats trade Harry and a 6th for a 7th in return to get some cap relief.
No one...he was not a factor this year.Who’s the biggest beneficiary of his departure (besides Pats fans)?
Bourne?
Yeah, but I assume the Pats wanted him to be. He had some targets. What’s the starting 3 look like in 3-wide sets without him?No one...he was not a factor this year.
Meyers (who is very under-rated), Agholor and Bourne...after that there is a big drop-off although there are some that hold out hope that Gunner can make a big step forward but that is a real long shot...as for Harry I don't think there were any expectations for him this year...unfortunately he is a complete bust.Yeah, but I assume the Pats wanted him to be. He had some targets. What’s the starting 3 look like in 3-wide sets without him?
Hunter, Smith, and Meyers. Yes, I know you meant WR. Harry was not going to have much of a role if he stuck around. Word on the street is they’ve been trying to move him for months. They’ve been planning to not have him around. No one individual really benefits. His 33 receptions will just be absorbed a little bit to everyone.Yeah, but I assume the Pats wanted him to be. He had some targets. What’s the starting 3 look like in 3-wide sets without him?
BB has no choice but to own this one. It's come out that the scouting department was not a fan of Harry, Bill had a man crush on him, he didn't listen to the scouts, and BB overrode their concerns and drafted him anyway. Let's just say he's had some better picks than this one.IMO I think Bill does great on defense. But that scouting room has done nothing on offense.
N'KEAL HARRY: Three potential trade fits
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
If you had any doubts about whether NFL scouts and coaches subscribe to this age-old adage, I expect the outcome of the N'Keal Harry saga will serve as a reminder that teams are always ready to take a shot on once-promising players who have been demoted or dismissed.
The New England Patriots' 2019 first-round pick has been a major disappointment, providing two seasons of inconsistent play at wide receiver. This offseason, the team signed Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne as free agents to upgrade the position, boosting speculation that Harry -- whom teams had already been calling about, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo -- was on the trade block and available to anyone looking for a big-bodied pass catcher on the perimeter. Thus, it was not a surprise to learn this week that Harry has requested a trade away from New England.
While Harry certainly has not performed up to expectations, it is too early to dismiss his chances of becoming a key contributor as a designated chain mover in the passing game.
At Arizona State, the 6-foot-2, 228-pounder destroyed opponents as a 50-50 specialist on the perimeter. Harry routinely wrestled the ball away from defenders while displaying outstanding hand-eye coordination and strength. In addition, he flashed excellent skills as an open-field runner. Harry not only blew through arm tackles with ease, but he knocked would-be tacklers down with aggressive stiff-arms that matched his feisty demeanor. The combination of physicality, toughness and intensity led me to believe he would evolve into a top possession receiver in an offense that needed a reliable pass-catching threat between the numbers.
However, in New England, Harry failed to carve out a role, averaging just 9.2 yards per catch (on 45 receptions) in 21 career games, with four touchdowns. Injuries have impacted his play. Even so, it's hard to get excited about a big-bodied wideout averaging fewer than 10 yards per catch in a pass-happy league.
The disappointment continues when studying film of Harry. He struggles against press coverage and lacks the burst to run away from defenders down the field. The lack of separation makes it hard to feature the young receiver as a WR1. Without proof that his 50-50 skills can translate to the NFL, the Patriots will have a tough time getting return compensation that comes anywhere close to his original value as the No. 32 overall pick in 2019. Perhaps Bill Belichick can pry a late-round selection from an interested team; a conditional sixth- or seventh-round selection might be the Pats' best bet at this stage.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the best fits for Harry on the trade market:
Green Bay Packers
The Packers have been searching for a consistent WR2 to place opposite Davante Adams for years. Although Harry has struggled in New England as a part-time starter, he possesses the size and running skills to shine in an offense that features some catch-and-run elements. Aaron Rodgers' status remains in question, but if he returns as the QB1, the MVP might be able to sprinkle some magic dust on Harry to help him re-discover his game as a rugged playmaker on the perimeter.
Chicago Bears
Matt Nagy and Co. need to find weapons to complement Allen Robinson in the passing game. Despite Harry's struggles, he is a big body with the size and physicality to win one-on-one matchups down the field. With Robinson routinely commanding double-coverage, the young pass catcher could carve out a niche as a WR2/WR3 while learning the nuances of the position from the Bears' No. 1 option.
New Orleans Saints
The lack of depth and talent behind Michael Thomas and Tre'Quan Smith could prompt Sean Payton to take a flier on Harry's potential with a low-risk trade. The 23-year-old would have an opportunity to get onto the field as a WR3 if he could beat out the competition for the role. Harry's size and ball skills could add a dimension to the Saints' offense if Payton could unlock his potential.
Josina Anderson reports disgruntled Patriots WR N'Keal Harry is planning to attend training camp.
23-year-old Harry recently requested a trade from New England, which obviously didn't move the needle given his career-high 33 catches from last year. He'll instead report to training camp (barring an unexpected deal) and fight for a role behind Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, and Kendrick Bourne. The No. 32 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Harry has underwhelmed with a career 2.1 receptions and 19.7 receiving yards per game.
SOURCE: Josina Anderson on Twitter
Jul 12, 2021, 2:50 PM ET
Not sure I totally agree with this. From what I saw / read / heard yesterday, Harry was one of the bright spots at receiver and caught a TD in 11 on 11 from both Cam and Mac (and actually looked better than year's past).Wilkerson seems to have already taken his spot.
Interesting difference. I figured we'd read much of the same.Anarchy99 said:Not sure I totally agree with this. From what I saw / read / heard yesterday, Harry was one of the bright spots at receiver and caught a TD in 11 on 11 from both Cam and Mac (and actually looked better than year's past).
Really hard to tell much of anything after one practice and different mixes of players. Generally speaking, the Pats defense is a lot stronger than the offense, so trying to figure out who did "better" is going to be tough to determine and evaluate. So a guy playing with the 2's with Mac at QB against the backup defense may have better numbers than guys playing with the 1's with Cam, but does that really mean much?
"At Arizona State, the 6-foot-2, 228-pounder destroyed opponents as a 50-50 specialist on the perimeter. Harry routinely wrestled the ball away from defenders while displaying outstanding hand-eye coordination and strength. In addition, he flashed excellent skills as an open-field runner. Harry not only blew through arm tackles with ease, but he knocked would-be tacklers down with aggressive stiff-arms that matched his feisty demeanor. The combination of physicality, toughness and intensity led me to believe he would evolve into a top possession receiver in an offense that needed a reliable pass-catching threat between the numbers."
I don't have any proof, but I wonder about his dedication to his craft.Harry has looked soft (relative to his peers), plain and simple. He was expected to be good based on size/strength, 50/50 wins, and breaking arm tackles (as mentioned in the clipped piece below). Instead, he's looked small and, on many occasions, been absolutely blown up by defensive backs. If his footwork sucks and he isn't winning with strength, there's little hope. The only possibility I see as reasonable is that he wasn't yet fully recovered from injury, so there's a (slim) chance that regained & improved strength physically and mentally (my ball attitude) might allow him to turn things around.
"At Arizona State, the 6-foot-2, 228-pounder destroyed opponents as a 50-50 specialist on the perimeter. Harry routinely wrestled the ball away from defenders while displaying outstanding hand-eye coordination and strength. In addition, he flashed excellent skills as an open-field runner. Harry not only blew through arm tackles with ease, but he knocked would-be tacklers down with aggressive stiff-arms that matched his feisty demeanor. The combination of physicality, toughness and intensity led me to believe he would evolve into a top possession receiver in an offense that needed a reliable pass-catching threat between the numbers."
CLNS Media's Evan Lazar reports third-year WR N'Keal Harry looks the "best he has looked in practice by a wide margin" this summer.
Lazar has been a Patriots beat writer for all three of Harry's training camps since he was taken with the No. 32 overall pick of the 2019 draft, so it's worth noting. But we're not going to get too excited until Harry starts stringing together strong practices and turns it on in game situations. However, by all accounts, Harry is having a really strong start to the summer and is making some difficult catches while catching passes from Cam Newton and Mac Jones. Harry requested a trade earlier in the offseason but has since softened his stance. He knows his best path to playing time may be in New England's weak wideout room.
SOURCE: CLNS Media
Aug 4, 2021, 1:36 PM ET
I can't with this. He's the biggest L I've taken for a fantasy opinion ever. Luckily, I don't have him for dynasty so he only hurt my pride and not my pocketbook.
I can't with this. He's the biggest L I've taken for a fantasy opinion ever. Luckily, I don't have him for dynasty so he only hurt my pride and not my pocketbook.
I can't with this.
Yep, once someone is down they are DEAD.Seeing similar trends with aging receivers in Dynasty Leagues.
Basically cannot unload Julio Jones. People aren't receptive to trading for Mike Evans either. Rather take their chances with the rookie drafts. I don't see anyone paying a 6th or 7th round pick for this guy...
Unfortunately for Harry, there are a lot more guys in line for target share well before him . . . and Cam Newton has been known to miss wide open receivers
Who is going to want him? His trade value has to be next to nothing. They have been trying to move him for months. Likely not worth it if all they can get is a 7th round pick.I would love to buy the hype but it's also one of the worst passing offense and it is super crowded. Best case scenario is a trade.
Yeah, that is why it's best case scenario. I do not envision that happening.Who is going to want him? His trade value has to be next to nothing. They have been trying to move him for months. Likely not worth it if all they can get is a 7th round pick.
N'Keal Harry was spotted with his left arm in a sling following the Patriots' preseason victory over the Eagles on Thursday.
Harry was trying to make a diving catch on a second quarter Mac Jones attempt and crunched his shoulder. He remained down for several moments and did not return after receiving medical attention. After requesting a trade earlier this summer, Harry has earned strong reviews for his work in Patriots camp, reportedly turning in his most consistent set of practices. Now the 23-year-old is in danger of missing next weekend's preseason finale with a modest two catches for 23 yards on three targets so far in exhibition action.
SOURCE: Boston Herald
Aug 19, 2021, 11:50 PM ET
He has a wrist contusion where Jones hit him with a beautiful deep ball. Hard to catch the ball with your wrists, i'm done with him, henceforth he is "Dirty Harry" to me and no I aint feelin lucky........
The problem is now he will be even harder to trade and they won't be able to release him without an injury settlement.That play encapsulated his career with the Pats...didn't make the play and got hurt.
The problem is now he will be even harder to trade and they won't be able to release him without an injury settlement.
I have never been a fan of Harry's, but to be fair, even though the official stat line for him last week was 1 catch for 4 yards, the game film shows that he got wide open multiple times and just didn't get targeted. He got tons of separation, yet the QBs simply didn't look his way.
The fact that he wasn't even an afterthought shows how little faith anyone has in him. He obviously is not in their plans moving forward . . . it's just how they break things off that is the last remaining piece of the puzzle.
There's no sugar coating Harry was both a bad pick, a bad fit, and still an issue. It happens. Playing the what if game in terms of who else they could have selected doesn't make much sense either. Sure, they could have had Samuel (hurt a lot), Brown, or Metcalf . . . who clearly are more talented but they may not have fared any better or may not have been a system fit in the NE system. It didn't happen that way, so we'll never know.The other issue is they don't have much after Meyers, Agholor and Bourne (unless you think Gunnar can develop) so they still kind of need him as sad as that sounds...this draft pick is a complete disaster...not only is he a bust but what they could have drafted there would have this offense in a totally different spot for years to come.
I am not onboard with that first paragraph…they had pretty much the pick of the litter of a very talented WR class and they bombed and the results of that decision have had a very negative effect on their offense…this isn’t a trust issue it is a talent issue…they don’t trust him because he is not good and that has been the case since day 1.There's no sugar coating Harry was both a bad pick, a bad fit, and still an issue. It happens. Playing the what if game in terms of who else they could have selected doesn't make much sense either. Sure, they could have had Samuel (hurt a lot), Brown, or Metcalf . . . who clearly are more talented but they may not have fared any better or may not have been a system fit in the NE system. It didn't happen that way, so we'll never know.
I think the real issue is the coaching staff and the QBs don't trust or believe in Harry. When he finally gets targeted, he doesn't do much. So far this camp he apparently had done well in practice as a big bodied red zone threat. That might be his role if he sticks with the team (which is probably doubtful at this point).
Their WR depth isn't great, but if the TEs are healthy (certainly a big if), one of them will serve as another receiver. From that lens, Agholor-Meyers-Henry-Bourne isn't that bad in terms of a depth chart. With Gunner practicing all the time with Jones, those two seem to have some decent chemistry (and would be another option once Mac takes over). Wilkerson seems destined to be cut and added to the practice squad (unless some other team picks him up).
Plus they have White as someone they have used a ton as a receiving threat. I am still interested to see how they utilize Michel. He was targeted a lot when he played last night, but in the first preseason game they had him split wide and in motion several times. Like with Newton, I am not convinced Michel has turned a corner or can stay healthy, but what Michel has shown so far this training camp has been pretty good. He looks a lot better overall this year . . . but is always a stone's throw away from going on IR.
Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer on Monday offered fascinating insight into how Bill Belichick previously has operated ahead of, and during, the NFL draft. Breer revealed that Belichick occasionally has ignored input from his own scouts and gone rogue during drafts, selecting his personal favorites despite concerns from people on the Patriots staff.
He also provided this nugget on Harry:
“It also, as some saw it, led to misses like N’Keal Harry in 2019. Harry killed his 30 visit that spring and had a college coach, Todd Graham, who was close to Belichick. In that end, without more input from scouts who preferred Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown, the coach wound up leaning on his own experience with Harry, rather than the red flags his scouts planted, and lost a golden opportunity to fill a hole on his roster.”
I think you misconstrued what I meant. There is no denying Harry was anything other than an unmitigated disaster of a pick. The other receivers that went near the top of the draft that year were all much more talented. But that doesn't mean one of them would have worked out and been an uber stud with the Pats. How they performed somewhere else would not necessarily have translated to how they would have done in NE. But the chances of hitting on someone because that guy was talented would have been a lot higher.I am not onboard with that first paragraph…they had pretty much the pick of the litter of a very talented WR class and they bombed and the results of that decision have had a very negative effect on their offense…this isn’t a trust issue it is a talent issue…they don’t trust him because he is not good and that has been the case since day 1.
All that came out months ago.The selection of Harry was a big whiff on Belichick according to Albert Breer:
Bill Belichick Reportedly Ignored Patriots Scouts When Drafting N’Keal Harry
Excerpt: