Should the Houston Texans have traded for N’Keal Harry instead of the Bears?
It was reported on Tuesday evening the Chicago Bears traded for wide receiver N’Keal Harry for a seventh round pick in 2024. The question is should have the Texans made this kind of trade as they are rebuilding their roster as well?
We all know the backstory of Texans general manager Nick Caserio and the New England Patriots, so if someone has first-hand knowledge of Harry it would be the guy currently in charge of rebuilding the Houston roster.
As for Harry, he joins a Bears roster where he’ll have a great opportunity to get plays under his belt during the regular season, as they too are rebuilding a roster. Chicago also seems to have their quarterback in place, that being Justin Fields, who is entering his second year, just like Houston quarterback Davis Mills.
Since being a first round pick back in 2019, Harry hasn’t lived up to being such a high draft selection with Bill Belichick as his head coach in New England. Harry, in three seasons with the Patriots, finished with 33 games played, resulting in 57 receptions for 598 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions. Harry also averaged 10.5 yards per reception in his first three seasons in the NFL with New England, but it wasn’t enough for him to want to stay in New England, or for the Patriots to not trade him.
Not watching a lot of Patriots games, it is tough to say exactly what went wrong with Harry in New England, but it is easy to see New England isn’t the team they used to be. Though Harry didn’t do a lot to make their offense better, the Patriots also have had a couple changes at quarterback since Tom Brady signed with Tampa Bay, as they are trying to replace the future Hall of Famer.
As for Houston, maybe being with Harry for the early part of his career, and most likely speaking to those still in New England, Caserio knew more than others, and passed on any sort of deal for the 24-year old wide receiver.
Would Harry have fit in with the Texans in 2022?
Just thinking about Harry and what some must have saw in him just three short seasons ago to make him a first round pick can make a person wonder what went wrong? Being the Texans are rebuilding their roster, and have given others chances when they were let go from a team, a ’24 seventh round pick doesn’t seem like much to part with for such a young wide receiver who obviously needed a fresh start.
Harry wouldn’t have started for Houston with Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins and rookie John Metchie (when 100-percent healthy) slated as the top three receivers for the Texans, but adding Harry wouldn’t have been the worst idea for a role on the receivers depth chart, especially if injuries happen.
Other notable wide receivers on the roster of Houston for ’22 include: Chris Conley, Jalen Camp, Phillip Dorsett, and Chris Moore to name a few, but there is more competition on the depth chart too. The belief here is Harry would have at least competed for a roster spot, and still having untapped potential, the wide receiver still has a great opportunity to make a name for himself with the Bears.
Now in Chicago, one must wonder how he’ll do with his new team, and another thought must be what didn’t the Texans see in him to pass on any sort of trade opportunity that was presented to them, or one they could have presented to the Bears?
Would you have wanted Houston to made some sort of trade for Harry and see what he could contribute with the Texans in 2022?