New England Patriots’ Plans For N’Keal Harry Reached The End Of The Road After Three Seasons

It took 53 weeks for the request to become a reality for N’Keal Harry, but time did not change what was on the wall with the New England Patriots.

The wide receiver was no longer part of the plans for the organization that selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft at No. 32 overall.

The Chicago Bears acquired Harry on Tuesday afternoon, as reported by NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport. A 2024 seventh-round pick would be the exchange for the 24-year-old wideout.

The trade brings an end to a tenure that began as the highest draft investment made at the position under head coach Bill Belichick. It brings an end to a tenure that spanned 57 receptions for 598 yards and four touchdowns.

Harry appeared in 33 games across his regular seasons with New England. He started 18, while a pair of Septembers started on injured reserve due to ankle and shoulder issues.

The Patriots had declined to exercise Harry’s $12.4 million fifth-year option in May. By then, the Arizona State product had seen the team land veteran DeVante Parker from the Miami Dolphins and move up in the second round to land rookie Tyquan Thornton out of Baylor.

Those moves were part of what was written out wide.

They followed the 2021 signings of Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor to respective three-year, $15 million and two-year, $22 million contracts. And they coincided with tendering Jakobi Meyers $3.986 million as a restricted free agent after the former undrafted arrival had led the team in receiving in consecutive campaigns.

That returning trio combined to eclipse 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 2021.

Harry was scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.872 million in the final year of his rookie pact with the Patriots. His departure leaves the club standing with $1.266 million in cap space, according to Miguel Benzan of PatsCap. It also leaves an opening for the likes of Tre Nixon, Kristian Wilkerson, Ty Montgomery, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Malcolm Perry to push for what could be a sixth spot on the 53-man roster.

The receiver depth chart will report back to Gillette Stadium for training camp in two weeks. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Harry, who did not participate in New England’s voluntary offseason workout program, faced longer odds by the time he attended mandatory minicamp in June.

Switching from jersey No. 15 to jersey No. 1 last fall, Harry went on to secure a dozen passes over a dozen contests. He played 30% of the offensive snaps and served as a blocker in the run game on 53% of those opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus.

Along the way came a contested catch of 28 yards from backup quarterback Brian Hoyer against the New York Jets. Later came a career long of 43 yards from rookie signal-caller Mac Jones against the Indianapolis Colts.

But those glimpses above the rim from the Sun Devils’ two-time All-Pac-12 honoree proved to be brief. Throws sent Harry’s direction during his time in New England resulted in an average of 1.7 receptions and 18.1 yards per game as well as 5.8 yards per target.

His chance for clean slate will come in a Bears passing attack led by first-year offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, second-year quarterback Justin Fields and third-year receiver Darnell Mooney.

But with the Patriots, the slate remained the same from one July to the next.