Chicago Bears: N’Keal Harry is a low-risk move but still puzzling

Though the trade for N’Keal Harry was a low-risk move by the Chicago Bears, it is still a puzzling decision that needs better answers. 

One of the main questions surrounding the offseason for the Chicago Bears was the wide receiver position. The solution was…..N’Keal Harry?

The former 2019 first-round pick by the New England Patriots was traded to the Windy City in exchange for a 2024 7th-round pick after a career in Foxborough that yielded 57 catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns over a three-year career.

Considering some of the players selected after Harry, DK Metcalf, Terry McLaurin, AJ Brown, and Deebo Samuel, this selection ranks up with Dominique Easley as a poor Patriots draft choice by Bill Belichick.

Now that the monologue is over, it’s time to look at the Bears’ side of things. On a positive note, Harry has the size and speed to be a good NFL wide receiver at 6’4″ 225 pounds.

Also, the Bears did not have to give up so much draft capital, which was a tendency of former general manager Ryan Pace.

That said, lack of production and the inability to create separation is a cause for concern. Ryan Poles has made it clear since he took over as general manager that he wants a tough, violent, and fast team, almost similar to the Jimmy Johnson Cowboys teams of the 90s.

Harry hasn’t shown that yet, but maybe it was because he was in the wrong system? Possibly.

The Chicago Bears took a low-risk gamble on N’Keal Harry, whose physical tools can work in their favor if unlocked and utilized correctly.

Retrospectively speaking, a positive about N’Keal Harry is how he is a strong run blocker, even for a wide receiver.

Given how the Chicago Bears will be utilizing the outside zone scheme, known for running the ball, Harry can use that to his advantage.

If anyone is interested, Pro Football Focus gave Harry a run-blocking grade of 84.8. Not bad at all and immensely useful. Maybe if he bulked up, he could play a tight-end role and use his run-blocking skills to his advantage.

But if he wants to stick to wide receiver, it would be wise to work on separation, which wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert knows a lot about.

For now, the highlights of miscues in New England will continue to haunt Harry.

That said, if he can improve and become more acclimated with the Bears system, then a career revival or a chance at a career revival will be more probable to occur. Until then, it’s a wait-and-see game.