N’Keal Harry, Tom Brady share their reactions to draft selection

Knowing they will soon be working together very closely, New England Patriots players N’Keal Harry and Tom Brady shared their reactions to draft night.

The latest addition to the New England Patriots is already saying and doing all the right things.

On top of that, he’s already talking like a longtime subscriber of “The Patriot Way,” which could bode well for his chances of making an immediate impact on the team in 2019.

N’Keal Harry was selected with the final pick of the first round in the 2019 NFL Draft. Many draft pundits and analysts figured Patriots GM Bill Belichick might attempt to trade down in order to amass more selections in Friday night’s second and third rounds (where New England currently has five picks), as Belichick has traditionally found better value in these areas than in the draft’s first round.

But the Patriots stayed their ground, Belichick gazed over his big board, and with a firm resolution, finally muttered, “It’s Harry.”

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1121725104818311169

The staffers in New England’s war room submitted the pick, Belichick dialed the number, and clear across the other side of the country, N’Keal Harry picked up his phone in Arizona to learn that his life was changed forever.

Asked what it means to join Bill Belichick and future Hall of Famer Tom Brady on the reigning world champions, Harry positively gushed about the opportunity in front of him – while simultaneously allowing just how much work he’s going to need to put in, as well as how ready he is to do just that.

“It was so surreal, especially for me, waiting that long and getting to the end of the first round,’’ Harry said. “I was honestly starting to think maybe I had to start getting ready for Day 2. So, when I got that call, I tried not to be emotional, but I couldn’t really hold it back at that point. I just felt so blessed, I was so thankful for the Patriots organization. I was just thanking God and I’m just ready to get to work.’’

The last part of that quote is what should have Patriots fans the most excited for Harry’s arrival in Foxborough. The Arizona State receiver could have gone the route of fellow 2019 draftee Dwayne Haskins (“The league done messed up”) or 2018 draftee Josh Rosen (“Nine mistakes were made ahead of me”), but instead he took the high road, expressing his gratitude to be selected where he was and focusing his energy instead on the future in front of him.

“I’m just ready to get to work.” That’s exactly what Bill Belichick, whose “Do Your Job” mantra is now famous, wants to hear from the newest member of his squad.

"“I have a lot of respect for everybody that has played at the NFL level,’’ Harry continued during his interview. “I have so much to learn, I have so much to handle coming into the game, coming into the NFL. It’s all on what the coaches want from me. I’m going to come in with the mindset of being very coachable. I’ve always been a very coachable player, just picking up on things very quickly. Whatever they need me to do or want me to do, I’ll get on it right away. I just felt like coming in, I’ll be expected to know a lot and be prepared, and I’m ready for that.”"

Harry was then asked how he felt about teaming up with Tom Brady, who most league observers consider to be the greatest quarterback of all time.

“I’m extremely excited. I’m just ecstatic to come in, work hard, constantly improve and just live up to the expectations,’’ said Harry.

Brady took to Twitter to welcome Harry to the Patriots, noting there were “big things ahead” to look forward to this season. “Glad to have you N’Keal… excited to work with you,” Brady posted in his tweet.

Harry’s drafting fills an immediate need for New England this season. After watching Josh Gordon depart the team while serving an indefinite suspension for substance abuse issues, the Patriots then saw tight end Rob Gronkowski announce his retirement in March, and also lost 2018 starters Chris Hogan and Cordarrelle Patterson in free agency.

Add it all up, and Brady once again looks like he’ll be asked to do more with less when it comes to his supporting cast of weapons. The G.O.A.T. has made a career out of excelling with relatively subpar receivers and tight ends around him, and if the Patriots are to have any hope of repeating as Super Bowl champions this season, Brady will inevitably need to elevate those around him once again.

N’Keal Harry’s addition certainly should help in that regard if all goes according to plan.