Inside The Vikings

Vikings Sign Former First Round Pick Wide Receiver

N'Keal Harry was the 32nd overall pick in 2019 and is still just 25 years old.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Sign Former First Round Pick Wide Receiver
Vikings Sign Former First Round Pick Wide Receiver

In this story:

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have signed wide receiver N'Keal Harry, a former first round pick who is still just 25 years old. He gives them a little more depth with a few receivers currently banged up.

Harry was drafted 32nd overall by the Patriots out of Arizona State in 2019, following consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with at least eight touchdowns. At 6'3", 228 pounds with a 38.5-inch vertical, Harry earned an 8.43 Relative Athletic Score and looked like a future NFL standout as a big outside receiver who could thrive in the red zone.

Instead, he flopped in New England. Harry appeared in 33 games over his first three seasons, starting 18 of them, and had a cumulative receiving line of 57 catches, 598 yards, and four touchdowns. Last year, the Patriots traded Harry to the Bears for a seventh-round pick. In Chicago, he began the year with an ankle injury, but returned to play in seven games and catch nine passes for 116 yards and a TD.

Now entering his fifth season, the Toronto native will look to keep his career alive in Minnesota. His primary issue has been creating separation as a route-runner.

Vikings receivers Jalen Nailor, Trishton Jackson, and Lucky Jackson are currently dealing with injuries, so Harry adds another body to that room. That he was once a first-round pick doesn't mean much at this point, but his size and college production does at least make him an interesting flier for the Vikings. 

This is similar to the Jalen Reagor acquisition; GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is taking another shot on a former first-round receiver who hasn't panned out.

The Vikings play their first preseason game on Thursday night in Seattle.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all season long.

Subscribe to the Inside the Vikings newsletter

Follow Will Ragatz on Twitter

Published
Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

Share on XFollow WillRagatz
Home/News