Getty N'Keal Harry on the sidelines during the 2021 season.
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‘keal Harry’s time with the New England Patriots appears to be coming to an end, and fans have gotten a glimpse of a potential destination for him.
Jess Root of USA Today’s CardsWire wrote in an April 5 story that Harry and the Arizona Cardinals could be a good fit for each other.
“Many believed the Cardinals would have selected him with the 33rd overall pick had New England not taken him (at No. 32),” Root wrote, referring to the 2019 NFL draft. “He is 6-4, 225 lbs with great speed and leaping ability. If the Cardinals wish to replace A.J. Green, Harry is a physical match for their ‘Z’ receiver spot.”
Harry, 24, was drafted ahead of fellow wide receivers D.K. Metcalf and Deebo Samuel, who in three seasons in the league have far eclipsed Harry. In 33 career games for New England, Harry has recorded 57 catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns. Metcalf and Samuel each has a season of 1,000 yards receiving to his name so far.
After requesting a trade in July 2021, Harry caught only 12 catches for 184 yards in 12 games last season. And with the Patriots’ April 2 acquisition of DeVante Parker, Harry’s role in New England is likely to diminish even further.
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Why N’Keal Harry Might Want to go to Arizona
There are plenty of reasons a move to the Cardinals would be intriguing for Harry.
He is a native of the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, which is about 30 miles from the Cardinals’ home stadium in Glendale. He burst onto the scene as a star receiver for Arizona State University in nearby Tempe. In three seasons as a Sun Devil, Harry recorded 213 receptions along with 2,889 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.
He also opened a gym last year in suburban Scottsdale.
Why Arizona Might Want Harry
The Cardinals need a wide receiver. They have yet to make a splash in free agency after losing Christian Kirk, who racked up 77 catches for 982 yards and five touchdowns last season, to the Jacksonville Jaguars. And veteran A.J. Green remains unsigned.
Harry is still on his rookie contract with the Patriots, who will owe him just under $1.9 million with only $674,000 being fully guaranteed.
It also wouldn’t cost the Cardinals a whole lot to trade for the wideout. Taking into consideration Harry’s previous trade request along with New England’s current crop of wide receivers, Arizona could likely get Harry for a late-round draft pick. Currently, the Cardinals have five total picks between the sixth and seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Still, Arizona would be taking on some risk if they acquired Harry. Between his injury history and lack of production, it could be difficult to envision him as the Cardinals’ second or third best receiver. Arizona would count on fourth-year quarterback Kyler Murray to help boost Harry’s production.
Harry hasn’t lived up to his potential in New England and could be a candidate for a fresh start elsewhere. A trade to Arizona for a late-round draft picks could benefit both sides.
The draft starts April 28, when Patriots fans might bid Harry adieu.