Patriots: 3 players who’ll see their roles reduced in 2021
By Jerry Trotta
1. N’Keal Harry
N’Keal Harry has done nothing to prove he deserves an increased role with the Patriots.
The Patriots put an emphasis on bolstering their pass catching unit this offseason, and rightfully so after it was the worst in the league over the last two campaigns. In a span of just a few days, they inked deals with wideouts Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor, as well as tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry.
New England wouldn’t add four weapons for quarterback Cam Newton if they didn’t plan to feature them heavily, so you’d have to think that foursome will account for the majority of targets in the passing game next season. This could result in some players falling down the depth chart, and embattled receiver N’Keal Harry sticks out the most in this regard.
The Patriots have reportedly been listening to trade offers for Harry this offseason, though no deal appears imminent. It remains to be seen if they’ll end up unloading their 2019 first-round pick, but for the sake of argument, let’s assume that he sticks around for a third year.
If that happens, there’s just no way the coaching staff can defend giving Harry a featured role. Not only has he struggled to stay on the field — he’s appeared in just 21 of a possible 32 regular season games thus far — but he hasn’t produced in the slightest when he’s been available.
The fact that Harry was downgraded to a limited role last season when the Patriots deployed arguably the weakest WR corps in the league speaks volumes about how little the coaching staff trusts him. In 14 games (nine starts), he played 58% of the offensive snaps.
With Bourne and Agholor entering the fold, 2020 breakout star Jakobi Meyers tasting blood and veteran Julian Edelman presumably fully recovered from knee surgery, Harry (if he isn’t traded) will likely start the season fifth on the wide receiver depth chart and eighth in the target pecking order behind Smith, Henry and James White, who’s back after a prolonged stint on the open market.
