Tuesday night, the Chicago Bears made a move that could end up being one of the best by new general manager Ryan Poles.
In a trade with the New England Patriots, the Bears sent a 2024 seventh-round pick to acquire former first-round talent N’Keal Harry, a wide receiver who never quite caught on in New England.
Harry, 24, had formally requested a trade last year in a desire to start fresh with a new team. New England hadn’t used him as much as one would have thought, coming in as a first-round pick out of Arizona State.
A team desperately in need of wide receiver help, the Bears decided to take a flier on the former Sun Devil.
N’Keal Harry might just give the Chicago Bears exactly what they have needed.
Let’s start with the obvious questions. No, Harry has not had trouble with the law nor has he had any character concerns. He has, however, only played in 33 games over the first three years of his career. So, health has certainly been a bit of an issue.
However, if Harry is healthy, then he still has the opportunity to be a very good player in this league. Keep in mind, at just 24 years old, he’s still younger than current Bears rookie Velus Jones Jr. That’s a bit wild to think about.
Harry stands 6-foot-4 and possesses a big, strong frame. But, he has also shown the ability to accelerate up field after the catch. His history as both a wide receiver and return man provide some eye-popping highlights, as his sneaky elusiveness comes out on film in a big way.
Harry has always shown an ability to make the acrobatic catches. His leaping ability and knack for adjusting in the air is why he became a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. With plenty of time left to prove his worth, Harry gets the fresh start he and his agent desired.
The Bears’ only real big body at wide receiver, as of right now, was veteran Equanimeous St. Brown. The odds of St. Brown panning out were as good a guess as anyone’s. Now, Harry gives the Bears a legitimate chance at finding that true outside receiver who can be a versatile chess piece in the passing game.
The Bears’ best-case scenario is that Harry catches on, learns the playbook and not only earns a spot on the roster, but earns a spot opposite Darnell Mooney and is able to help in Justin Fields’ ascension.
