Infamous Patriots draft bust might be done in the NFL after latest release

The roster cut-down deadline for the 2024 season has come and gone, with the Patriots making a few surprising cuts, and it was difficult not to notice the long list of players heading to free agency around the league.

The Patriots have already stated they will be active on the waiver wire and signing free agents, particularly for their offensive line, even though it's fair to say that most quality players are not going to be available. However, they hold the third spot on the waiver wire, which benefits their chances of snagging some of the better talent.

One of the few notable names released before Tuesday's deadline was former Patriots first-round draft pick N'Keal Harry, who was most recently signed to the Vikings. Since he was traded in 2022, he has tried to get his career back on track with the Bears and before spending the 2023 season in Minnesota.

He even switched positions, hoping to utilize his size and skillset as a tight end instead of a wide receiver, which seemed like a good idea in theory.

However, his efforts fell flat, and he was released ahead of the deadline this week. He will now try to find a new team to play for, but that doesn't seem too likely, given his history.

A position change didn't help N'Keal Harry revamp his NFL career

Harry faced a lot of scrutiny from the start, as Bill Belichick decided to use a first-round pick on the former Arizona State player despite being projected to go in a later round. The Patriots needed to improve their receiving corps, and with Tom Brady getting older, it seems the head coach and GM felt the pressure to deliver as soon as possible.

They were still in their championship window, and Belichick believed that Harry would be the perfect addition to the offense, only for him not to impress during his rookie season.

Part of that could easily be blamed on Brady's reluctance to work with rookie receivers, something he had become known for throughout his career. That likely impacted Harry's production, but even after the quarterback left for the Bucs and Cam Newton took over, he couldn't break out of the incoming bust label that was circulating.

Harry hoped to prove that narrative wrong in Chicago and Minnesota, but his efforts were not enough and could potentially mean his NFL career is, at the very best, on the rocks.

It's an unfortunate turn of events for a player who came into the league from an exciting college career and had all the abilities to be a productive player in the pros.

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