N’Keal Harry: First look at the Patriots’ first-round pick

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 09: Wide receiver N'Keal Harry #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils catches a five yard touchdown pass against cornerback Ron Smith #17 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 09: Wide receiver N'Keal Harry #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils catches a five yard touchdown pass against cornerback Ron Smith #17 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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New Patriots addition N’Keal Harry was easily one of the most well-rounded and dominant wide receiver prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft class.

Meet N’Keal Harry, the newest member of the New England Patriots – or at least until the second and third rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft get underway Friday evening. All in all, the Pats have another five picks slated for Friday (two in the second round and three in the third), so unless Bill Belichick starts wheeling and dealing, Patriots Nation could have six new rookies incoming before we even get to Saturday.

That’s a crazy thought for any team, but especially for a team that just won the most recent Super Bowl. It further illustrates that as much as the Patriots found themselves limited for options in free agency last month, they really are now sitting atop a mountain of riches this month when it comes to the draft.

Before we get to Friday or Saturday though, it’s important to take stock of what happened late Thursday night. Diehard New Englanders had to wait till nearly midnight local time to find out what Belichick had planned for the final pick in the first round. Many viewers – as well as a number of draft analysts, experts, and TV talking heads – figured Belichick might do the Belichick thing and trade out of the first round altogether at that point, perhaps amassing another pick or two (or even future assets) in the process.

But Belichick interestingly stayed put at No. 32 overall. He and the rest of the members of the Patriots’ war room seemed to use every second they had while the team was on the clock, bleeding it all the way down before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made his final walk to the podium on Thursday night in Nashville.

As was the case all night, Goodell was serenaded by a chorus of boos – perhaps coming on stronger with the unpopular Patriots also on the clock – as he announced that the reigning world champions had selected Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry with the final pick of the draft’s first round.

Patriots fans living on the West Coast may have had some opportunities to catch Harry in game action over his past three seasons playing in the Pac-12. Harry was born in Canada and even spent some time living in the Caribbean before moving with his grandmother to Arizona as a child. Rivals gave him five stars as a high school player, and in 2016, Harry began his freshman year at Arizona State University.

During his time as a Sun Devil, Harry built up quite a highlight reel of big-time catches and plays. Check out this one below against USC:

https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1121624217131184128

Not to overstate the obvious, but that’s an “Odell Beckham Jr. type catch” right there. Harry is falling backward and getting interfered with by the DB, and he still manages to make a one-handed grab even as his 6’2 frame tilts parallel to the ground. Amazingly, Harry held onto the ball.

And then there’s this:

Harry makes at least four different players miss as he weaves his way through both friend and foe en route to a touchdown from 30 yards out. Few players in either the professional or collegiate ranks can pull off this kind of trick, essentially changing course, running backward, and reversing across the width of the field the opposite direction you originally wanted to go. At least 90% of the time, that kind of maneuver ends up a major loss of yardage for the offense… but not with Harry.

A two-time First-team All-Pac 12 honoree, Harry is considered to be one of the most balanced, well-rounded wide receiver prospects in this year’s draft class. He has the physical stature and stamina, he has the ability to contest balls and win those battles against defenders, and he has the intelligence to run a varied route-tree – something he’ll most certainly need in making the jump to an offense as sophisticated as the Patriots’.

One knock on Harry entering this draft was his top-end speed. Critics voiced concerns over whether or not Harry could truly take the top off opposing defenses and become the kind of burner most coaches crave at the receiver position.

Thankfully for Harry, Bill Belichick is not most coaches. Belichick and the Patriots haven’t done a lot of things wrong over the past 20 years, but one thing they haven’t done right over that span is draft wide receivers that last and make significant contributions to the team’s winning ways. Malcolm Mitchell looked like he had the potential to buck that trend a couple years ago, but unfortunately injuries took their toll and ultimately forced the Georgia product to retire prematurely.

Harry might represent the Pats’ best chance at striking gold when it comes to finding a starting-caliber receiving in the draft. Even if he’s not the fleetest of foot compared to speedsters like Marquise Brown and D.K. Metcalf, he doesn’t need to be in order to find success in New England. All he needs to do is master the playbook and find creative ways to get open, both on the outside and underneath. Tom Brady will do the rest.

Harry’s blocking ability should also help his chances of making a lasting impact on the Patriots. Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have long expressed their preference for offensive skill position players who don’t mind doing the dirty, unglamorous work in the trenches when they’re called upon – it’s part of the reason Rob Gronkowski was such a sensation for nine years in Foxborough. Yes, he was a dynamic red-zone receiving threat, but he also was a phenomenal run-blocker and pass-protector when he needed to be.

Only time will tell whether Harry goes on to become a trusted and reliable weapon for Brady and the Patriots offense. As stated earlier, history hasn’t been kind to New England wide receiver draft picks. The Patriots have also never selected a receiver in the first round during the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era, so Harry really is in uncharted waters in his new situation.

Next. Benjamin Watson considering a return to NFL, per sources. dark

But at least on paper, what a situation to enter into: he joins one of the winningest franchises in professional sports, fresh off the heels of their latest championship victory. He’ll now have the chance to play for a guy some call the greatest coach in NFL history, and catch passes from a guy some call the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

Will there be pressure? You better believe it.

Assuming Harry can stay humble, learn quickly, and develop fast chemistry with Brady though, the sky’s the limit for the Patriots’ 2019 first-round pick.