Thornton: N’Keal Harry Worst Acquisition of Belichick’s Career

[Deus Irae]

Go watch highlights of anquin bolden. He didnt “separate“ either but was still quite effective. I get the thinking in drafting Harry if you think you are getting that guy. The difference is Bolden actually gave AF and fought for the ball and lined up in the right spot. I have no problem with the kind of player they drafted and chalk it up to a costly miss on the specific player who can’t seem to get his head out of his *** and line up correctly after 3 years.

Just a point to note:

Boldin was not a 1st round pick, and he was not among the top 2 WRs taken. He was the 6th WR taken, and he went in the mid-2nd. In fact, Bethel Johnson was among those WRs drafted ahead of him.

 

[pazrul72]

Just a point to note:

Boldin was not a 1st round pick, and he was not among the top 2 WRs taken. He was the 6th WR taken, and he went in the mid-2nd. In fact, Bethel Johnson was among those WRs drafted ahead of him.

I was merely using him as an example of what Harry could have been and that that type of player can be successful. Obviously the amount of draft capital used factors into how bad an acquisition he was but the kind of WR he is shouldn’t be one of those.

 

[Deus Irae]

I was merely using him as an example of what Harry could have been and that that type of player can be successful. Obviously the amount of draft capital used factors into how bad an acquisition he was but the kind of WR he is shouldn’t be one of those.

Nobody, with the possible exception of Captain Stone, would have objected to drafting N'Keal Harry in the 7th round, though, and that's the whole point. The issue with Harry is not that he was drafted. The issue is where he was drafted.

 

[BradytoMosstoGronk]

Nobody, with the possible exception of Captain Stone, would have objected to drafting N'Keal Harry in the 7th round, though, and that's the whole point. The issue with Harry is not that he was drafted. The issue is where he was drafted.

I'm glad you included that tidbit with Captain Stone. That man wouldn't waste a fart on Harry.

 

[Kontradiction]

Whatever happened to the thought of trading Harry for Andy Isabella?. I realize Isabella has performed about as well as Harry(if not worse) but maybe both could use a change of scenery. I know it is trading my garbage for your garbage, but at least Isabella might have some skills that the Pats might be able to use. Speed, quickness, etc.

I mean, just starting with the fact that Isabella can line up correctly and know when he needs to motion is a big plus. Never mind his speed and quickness in and out of cuts.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

First I want to say that bb has made a lot of astute draft picks. And he has made some amazing UDFA signings as well. Nobody goes 100 percent.

but in my mind, Harry will never be able to wrestle the title of the worst bb draft pick from Easley! That guy was beyond putrid.

we have to figure out how to get Isabella out of arizona, if he is healthy. And we have to get Wilkerson on the 53. He is more capable than Harry.

 

[slifersd]

Is our system also an issue here? It seems like our system is often times so complicated that a WR needs a PhD to learn it. Young players typically have a long learning curve just to figure out how to play in the league in general, nevertheless a super complicated playbook too.

 

[Deus Irae]

Is our system also an issue here? It seems like our system is often times so complicated that a WR needs a PhD to learn it. Young players typically have a long learning curve just to figure out how to play in the league in general, nevertheless a super complicated playbook too.

1. Bourne and Agholor have been here for less than half a season, yet they seem to be able to grasp more than Harry.
2. Mitchell and Jakobi both grasped it as rookies.

 

[mikey m]

Is Harry simply a bad footballer or does he just not understand the playbook? Would he perhaps be successful in an easier to grasp system? Struggling to nail down exactly what his problem is.

"Everything."

 

[Ian]

Nobody, with the possible exception of Captain Stone, would have objected to drafting N'Keal Harry in the 7th round, though, and that's the whole point. The issue with Harry is not that he was drafted. The issue is where he was drafted.

Same thing happened with Michel. If they had found him later in the draft instead of round one, I think people probably would have appreciated the fact he was a solid back whose worst attributes were that he wasn't a burner or a pass-catching threat. Aside from that, he had good vision, ran hard, hit the holes, picked up good yardage, and didn't fumble. Can't expect a guy to do much more than that. He just happens to not be named Chubb.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Same thing happened with Michel. If they had found him later in the draft instead of round one, I think people probably would have appreciated the fact he was a solid back whose worst attributes were that he wasn't a burner or a pass-catching threat. Aside from that, he had good vision, ran hard, hit the holes, picked up good yardage, and didn't fumble. Can't expect a guy to do much more than that. He just happens to not be named Chubb.

This was the only pick that I was critical about because, frankly, I don't know more than the scouts when it comes to scouting and drafting. But I hated the idea of using a first round pick on a running back. I think this only makes sense when the guy is truly a generational talent, and even then, I don't think I'd pick any one of them in the top 10. There just isn't a huge difference between an average running back and and an "elite" running back with the only exception perhaps Derrick Henry, prime Adrian Peterson, Barry Sanders, and the truly exceptional guys that are so rare. So much of it has to do with the passing game (to move the defense back), blocking, etc. I do like running backs who excel as pass catchers/pass blockers like White, Faulk, etc., but it seems those guys are often around in the mid rounds. Anyway, just my .02; running backs can bust just like any other position, but I don't see the typical first round upside even when they don't bust.

I think the market sort of confirms what I'm saying here...a guy like Leonard Fournette was a "big name free agent" and re-signed for $3M this offseason. Rarely do you see any of them make more than $8M. So if that's kind of the market max on the position, why spend a first round pick there? It's not a kicker, but the position is closer to kicker value than quarterback value.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I know we sh*t on the Michel pick a lot. But as I've said many times, look at the Seahawks and Rahard Penny who was taken before him. Now that was an awful pick.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I know we sh*t on the Michel pick a lot. But as I've said many times, look at the Seahawks and Rahard Penny who was taken before him. Now that was an awful pick.

It's baffling that in 2018, six running backs went in the top 43 picks. Besides the Browns, did any team actually get a good return based on draft position? It's so rare to get good return from a running back anywhere near the top of the draft.

S. Barkley (2)
R. Penny (27)
S. Michel (31)
N. Chubb (35)
R. Jones (38)
K. Johnson (43)

 

[FCB02062]

On Michel, at least he contributed to the team. He was a big reason they won the SB in 2018 and played a huge role in the playoffs that year. Michel was excellent down the stretch. Harry on the other hand? He's done absolutely nothing to contribute to this team - literally nothing. His biggest most notable play was a touchdown that wasn't allowed. Out of the bust-a-rama that has been Bill the GM's latest drafts, Sony Michel is the least of the problem.

 

[TheRainMaker]

It's baffling that in 2018, six running backs went in the top 36 picks. Besides the Browns, did any team actually get a good return based on draft position? It's so rare to get good return from a running back anywhere near the top of the draft.

S. Barkley (2)
R. Penny (27)
S. Michel (31)
N. Chubb (35)
R. Jones (38)
K. Johnson (43)

I'm with you, if the RB is not a transcendent talent, avoid picking a RB in the 1st round. Teams are finding quality RB's in as early as the 3rd round these days.

 

[203Pat]

It's baffling that in 2018, six running backs went in the top 36 picks. Besides the Browns, did any team actually get a good return based on draft position? It's so rare to get good return from a running back anywhere near the top of the draft.

S. Barkley (2)
R. Penny (27)
S. Michel (31)
N. Chubb (35)
R. Jones (38)
K. Johnson (43)

Barkley at 2 with all that team needed is criminal. This is why you take running backs in the mid to late rounds or even UDFAs. They're cheap and the drop off from a great RB to two solid ones is negligible. Draft one or two every 2-3 years and cycle through them.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Barkley at 2 with all that team needed is criminal. This is why you take running backs in the mid to late rounds or even UDFAs. They're cheap and the drop off from a great RB to two solid ones is negligible. Draft one or two every 2-3 years and cycle through them.

Yes exactly. A waste to go RB so high. A cheap FA or mid round pick would have replicated Michel's production in 2018. Those running lanes were huge behind Gronk and Develin and that good OLine.

Harry, Wynn, Michel was disastrous and really hurt the team's talent pipeline. 3 guys who should have been mid round to low picks.

 

[Deus Irae]

Barkley at 2 with all that team needed is criminal. This is why you take running backs in the mid to late rounds or even UDFAs. They're cheap and the drop off from a great RB to two solid ones is negligible. Draft one or two every 2-3 years and cycle through them.

Without the injuries, I don't see the problem with drafting Barkley. Look at that year's top 10



Obviously, the winning choice would have been to take Josh Allen, but there were a lot of teams that were out on him, so I can't kill a team on that one. Had the Eli issue been resolved in another manner, I might have a different perspective, but the Giants were still riding that Manning train.

 

[borg]

I don't think that book on Harry is closed yet.

Given Simple N'Keal's inability to manage even the most rudimentary tasks on the field, one has to ask...Has N'Keal even opened his "book" ?

 

[203Pat]

Without the injuries, I don't see the problem with drafting Barkley. Look at that year's top 10

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Obviously, the winning choice would have been to take Josh Allen, but there were a lot of teams that were out on him, so I can't kill a team on that one. Had the Eli issue been resolved in another manner, I might have a different perspective, but the Giants were still riding that Manning train.

To be honest I would take any of those guys outside of Rosen over Barkely. I think anyone of those other guys would be an upgrade over what they had at the time.