The Patriots have reportedly thinned their crowded receiver room by trading 2019 first-round pick N'Keal Harry to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round pick.
A final-round pick two years out is one team saying, essentially, "We just don't want to have release him because we can save a few cap dollars, so please give us anything." By trading Harry, instead of releasing him, the Patriots save about $1 million in cap space.
Harry, taken 32nd overall out of Arizona State, started 18 games in three seasons and caught 57 passes for 598 yards and four touchdowns. Harry was injured in his first preseason action as a rookie and spent the first half of the season on IR. Once he was back, Harry never displayed the elusiveness and physicality that he demonstrated in college.
The Patriots' receivers depth chart now:
DeVante Parker
Nelson Agholor
Kendrick Bourne
Jakobi Meyers
Tyquan Thornton
Ty Montgomery
Tre Nixon
Kristian Wilkerson
Malcolm Perry
Lil'Jordan Humphrey
That's still fairly crowded, if the first five on the list are entrenched on the roster. The question is, will anyone else join Harry on a train out of town?
BSJ ANALYSIS
As we noted on our latest 53-man projection — which had Harry traded or released — the Patriots usually keep, on average, 4.6 receivers (in the good-old 53-man roster days). If you want a Nixon or Montgomery to make the team, the Patriots are going to have stash up to three veterans on the practice squad during the first month of the season. Or you're going to have trade or release someone else.
I wouldn't rule out Agholor or Meyers, especially if the Patriots are dead-set on Thornton having a real role, and making sure he's not another Harry. I would say Bourne has a much lesser chance, but also can't be ruled out because he could have some good value and he may not love the current coaching situation, despite what he's said in front of microphones.
Agholor would stand the best chance, unless the Patriots want him to be the new slot. Parker is going to be the boundary receiver, so where does that leave Agholor if Bourne and Meyers also are better in the middle of the field?