The New England Patriots drafted a receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time under Bill Belichick. They took Arizona State's N'Keal Harry with the final pick of the first round in hopes that the Sun Devil can give them another top receiving weapon for their offense.
So far, Harry has received high praise for his overall ability, some of which has come from Arizona State's head coach, Herm Edwards. On an appearance on WEEI's Mut and Callahan, Edwards was complimentary of Harry's skill set and referenced his versatility as a major positive.
(Harry) wins 90 percent of the contested balls. Not afraid to go over the middle. Has really good running skills when he gets the ball in his hand. Can play inside and outside. We moved him around a little bit; didn't play inside a whole lot.
Edwards also had a pro comparison for Harry. He likened Harry's skill set to a former Dallas Cowboys receiver who was once one of the better pass catchers in the league.
I don't like to get into comparing guys, but if you look at his height (6-2 3/8), his size (228 pounds), and probably his speed, similar to Dez Bryant. Same body build. The ability to go up and fight for the football.
That's certainly an encouraging comparison for Harry. Bryant had a stretch of three 1,000-plus and 12-plus touchdowns from 2012-2014 and at his best, was a contested catch machine and an athletic threat for the Cowboys. If Harry can come close to that type of production in his prime, the Patriots will be more than happy with their investment.
New England Patriots
The Patriots may continue to upgrade their receiving corps as the 2019 NFL Draft continues. The team is still armed with 11 picks, so they will still be in control of the rest of the draft and could move around on Day 2.
Potential Day 2 targets for the New England Patriots>>>
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