Based on the scouting report given Friday by his former school coach, the New England Patriots needs to be very enthusiastic about huge receiver N’Keal Harry, their prime 2019 draft choose.
Harry, who at 32nd general was the very best receiver ever drafted by Bill Belichick’s Patriots, performed at Arizona State beneath Herm Edwards, the previous New York Jets head coach and ESPN analyst. At 6-foot-2, 228 kilos and with an innate capacity to make contested catches in visitors, Edwards in contrast Harry’s ability set to that of former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant.
“(He’s) a very competitive player,” Edwards mentioned on WEEI’s “Mut & Callahan.” “He jogs my memory quite a bit — and I don’t wish to get into evaluating guys — however if you happen to have a look at his peak, his dimension and possibly his pace, just like Dez Bryant whenever you have a look at him.
“Same body build, the ability to go up and really fight for the football. He 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 hands. You can see that on some tape.”
That’s a legitimate comparability. Bryant was virtually precisely the identical dimension when he entered the NFL in 2010 (6-foot-2, 225 kilos), and their leads to the 40-yard sprint (4.53 seconds for Harry; 4.52 for Bryant) and vertical soar (38 1/2 inches; 38 inches) had been practically similar, as effectively.
Bryant had the significantly better broad soar (133 inches to 122), however Harry was considerably quicker within the short-area quickness drills (4.28 seconds to 4.48 within the brief shuttle; 7.05 seconds to 7.21 within the three-cone).
Harry downplayed these similarities throughout his introductory convention name Thursday evening.
“I have a lot of respect for everybody that has played at the NFL level,” the 21-year-old mentioned. “I have so much to learn, I have so much to handle coming into the game, coming into the NFL. It’s hard to really give a comparison.”
Harry was a flexible weapon for the Sun Devils, lining up each on the perimeter and within the slot. In addition to the 22 receiving touchdowns he recorded over his three collegiate seasons, he additionally rushed for 3 touchdowns, scored on a punt return and even threw a landing go.
In 12 video games as a junior in 2018, Harry caught 73 passes for 1,088 yards and 9 touchdowns, displaying spectacular physicality and athleticism each on the catch level and with the ball in his fingers.
“He can play inside and outside,” Edwards, who took over the Arizona State program earlier than final season, mentioned on “M&C.” “We moved him round a little bit bit. He didn’t play inside a complete lot (in 2017), and I form of moved him round. I wished to get the ball inside to get some matchups. He’s a competitor. I’m speaking on daily basis. He matches the mould.
“Every day is a work day for him. He takes the field trying to get better. Doesn’t like losing anything. He’s built that way. He’s an emotional guy. He gets emotional at times, but I think that is just maturity. You got yourself a good football player. There’s no doubt about that.”
Harry joins a new-look Patriots receiving corps that additionally options Julian Edelman, Dermaryius Thomas, Phillip Dorsett, Bruce Ellington, Maurice Harris, Braxton Berrios, Damoun Patterson and particular teamer Matthew Slater.
Thumbnail photograph by way of Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images