FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Chicago Bears have acquired wide receiver N’Keel Harry from the New England Patriots in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft, a source told ESPN’s Field Yates.
Harry, the last pick of the 2019 first round (32nd overall), never really broke out in New England after becoming the highest-selected receiver in Bill Belichick’s tenure (2000-present) .
He totaled 57 receptions for 598 yards and four touchdowns in 36 regular season games.
Harry, who had requested a trade before the 2021 season, faced an uphill climb to earn a roster spot this season after New England traded for veteran DeVant Parker. In addition to Parker, the Patriots have Nelson Aholor, Jacoby Myers and Kendrick Bourne locked into the top spots on their depth chart.
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Harry was not a participant in the team’s voluntary offseason program, and during mandatory minicamp in June, he was leapfrogged by others who were previously behind him on the depth chart.
The Patriots, who are meeting the salary cap, get about $1 million in much-needed relief by trading Harry.
In 2019, Harry was a highly touted prospect coming out of Arizona State, where he appeared in 37 career games and totaled 213 receptions for 2,889 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Patriots were excited about his physical makeup (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) and ability to make contested catches.
While that didn’t pan out in New England, Harry now joins a receiving group in Chicago headlined by third-year pro Darnell Mooney, who led the team with 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns last season. The Bears also selected Velus Jones Jr. by Tennessee in the third round.
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