The New England Patriots have not had much luck drafting wide receivers over the years.
Arguably, the greatest example of a failed wide receiver pick by the Patriots was N’Keal Harry, the team’s first-round selection in 2019. Harry was a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 performer at Arizona State before moving on to New England, where he contributed minimally over three seasons.
According to ex-NFL head coach Herm Edwards, who coached Harry at ASU, his former pupil failed because of a combination of those around him and a poor overall fit with the Patriots.
“He had hanger-on’ers. And it was like, ‘C’mon, N’Keal.’” Edwards told Go Long’s Tyler Dunne. “Because talent-wise? He’s got enough talent. He’s a big, strong physical receiver to catch the ball. And then he went to New England. That was the worst place for him to go because it just didn’t fit. That didn’t fit him.”
Harry caught 57 passes for 598 yards and four touchdowns in 33 games with New England. He played in seven games with the Chicago Bears in 2022, catching seven passes for 116 yards and one score.
Last season, the former first-rounder appeared in nine contests for the Minnesota Vikings, but did not log any receptions.
“He’s with Minnesota and I’m hoping he gets a shot there,” Edwards told Dunne. “Because, see, what I did with him, he’s got good speed. He’s not a burner. He’s got good enough speed — but he’s strong and powerful.
“See what I did in senior year, I put him in the slot. I moved him around. So I said, ‘Man, you need to be a slot receiver. You’re a big physical guy.’ He ain’t going to beat you off the line with his speed. He’s strong, he’s physical. Put this guy in the slot.”