The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles are giving a former first-round pick a chance to redeem himself in an attempt to bolster their wide receiver corps ahead of training camp.
The Bears acquired former New England Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry in a trade for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick. The trade was first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.
The #Patriots have traded WR N’Keal Harry to the #Bears, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Former first-round pick gets a shot at a fresh start.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 12, 2022
Harry was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Arizona State, but his career got off to a rocky start. He was injured for much of his rookie season and failed to catch on with the Patriots in three years. Prior to the 2021 season, Harry requested a trade but wasn’t moved and wound up missing time due to injury. After skipping organized team activities, he finally got his wish. In three seasons, Harry compiled just 57 catches for 589 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Now the 24-year old joins the Bears and a receiving group that has plenty of unknowns outside of Darnell Mooney with a chance to revitalize his career under head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
When the news hit social media, the consensus among Bears and NFL fans was optimism for landing a talent like Harry for just a seventh-round draft pick that won’t materialize for nearly two years. As one person puts it, “why not?”
