CHICAGO — A new face is joining the crowd as the Chicago Bears completely rebuild at wide receiver, where they have Darnell Mooney and a cast of newcomers.
The Bears are acquiring N’Keal Harry, a former first-round draft pick by the New England Patriots, in a trade for their 2024 seventh-round pick. NFL Media first reported the deal.
Harry was a bust in New England as the 32nd pick in the 2019 draft — selected ahead of A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf, Diontae Johnson and Terry McLaurin — but the Bears are buying low and getting a player who should be motivated entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Harry reportedly requested a trade before last season, but that didn’t materialize. Now he has a new home where the depth chart is wide open two weeks before training camp.
The Arizona State product totaled only 57 catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns over 33 games in his first three seasons. He had 12 catches for 184 yards and no scores in 12 games last season.
Harry was very productive for the Sun Devils in three seasons, especially in 2017 and 2018, when he combined for 2,230 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder was able to use his size and strength to overpower defenders in college but hasn’t been a physical presence in the NFL.
The Bears have competition for playing time in Byron Pringle, signed to a one-year, $4.125 million contract, and third-round pick Velus Jones. Equanimeous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, Tajae Sharpe and 2021 sixth-round pick Dazz Newsome also are part of a crowded room.
It’s a minimal investment for the Bears. Maybe a fresh start will prove to be what Harry needs.
