The Chicago Bears have serious questions at wide receiver going into training camp. GM Ryan Poles was reluctant to throw significant resources at the position in free agency or the draft. After seeing what the team has in OTAs and minicamps, it became clear that it wasn’t enough. They needed more. So the team decided to take a calculated risk by trading for former 1st round pick N’Keal Harry from the New England Patriots.
According to Ian Rapoport, the move costs the Bears a 7th round pick in 2024. Pretty much chump change by draft standards. The Patriots have long flirted with the idea of moving on from Harry. The wide receiver himself has sought an exit since the start of last season. Nothing came together until now. He is probably thrilled for a fresh opportunity elsewhere. Harry made 57 catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns over three seasons.
The #Patriots have traded WR N’Keal Harry to the #Bears, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Former first-round pick gets a shot at a fresh start.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 12, 2022
It’s a 7th rounder in 2024 going to New England. https://t.co/npGaDigEQh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 12, 2022
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On WR N'Keal Harry's trade to Chicago a source says they believe "sometimes a change of scenery is necessary." The belief is that Harry will add to the competition at the position, and the hope is he'll continue to develop when they pour into him.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) July 12, 2022
This is a smart move by the Chicago Bears.
Will it work out? There is no way to know. The key here is they paid a cheap price while Harry is still young. He is only 24 years old. The guy went in the 1st round for a reason. Some compared him to Allen Robinson coming out of Arizona State. What he lacks in overall speed he makes up for in body control, long arms, and strong hands. Give him an opportunity to go get the ball; he was likely to come down with it.
Unfortunately, he never seemed to fit in with the Patriots’ offense. Their system is notorious for requiring precise route running. That was never his strength. He is more of an imposing possession receiver and an excellent run blocker. That is something the Chicago Bears wanted to target a lot this off-season. Luke Getsy’s wide-zone system demands receivers who can be in on the action. Harry is a perfect fit.
I saw on CBS Sports they graded this trade. The grade was a B for New England and a C for the Bears. So, the Bears giving up a 7th round pick in 2024 (2 drafts away) was somehow worse than New England giving up a FIRST round drafted WR for this 7th round pick 2 years away. I get that Harry most likely will do very little. But if this trade was the Bears sending him to NE for the same pick, I can’t help but believe the Pats still get the better grade.
N Harry looks more like a tight end than a wide receiver. It would be great if Harry is more productive with the Bears having a fresh start.
N Harry could develop into a very good 3rd down and red zone target for the Bears. They don’t need him to be a 1000 yd over the middle or deep ball receiver, they just need him to show up in the red zone and on those critical short to medium yd 3rd downs to keep the chains moving. If they get A Boldin-type production, it will be considered a steal by the end of the season. Make things very interesting in the red zone with Kmet on one side and Harry on the other.
This can be a sneaky good pickup to add to Fields arsenal
We needed a big body GUAGI receiver and blocker. He won’t threaten deep but that’s the job of Mooney and Jones. System fit not a #1 receiver obv.