The Biggest Bust (Harry vs Polk)

[Rob0729]

Harry is officially ancient history - 7 drafts and several QB's & HC's ago.

The way I look at Polk, the miss on McConkey, and other mistakes of the past few years is that we needed the back to back 4-13 seasons to reset. Had Polk succeeded or had we taken McConkey, there probably wouldn't have been a SB last year or be in prime position this year. We've successfully navigated the troubled waters, and the mistakes contributed to that.

I think missing on AJ Brown over Harry is worse than missing on McConkey over Polk. AJ Brown has a long track record of being a top WR in the league. McConkey, at least thus far, has one year. And was McConkey as good as his stats say in his rookie season or was he Herbert's only receiving option? Last year he had very mediocre stats for a #1 WR. Granted he was still thrown to a lot last year, he just had a below average catch rate.

 

[reflexblue]

If this is just about wide outs its polk by a mile.

 

[TheRainMaker]

If this is just about wide outs its polk by a mile.

I can finally see your posts!

 

[h0c2000]

Chad Jackson is glad to give up the title.

 

[Triumph]

Polkie played at Washington and Williams played at Washington State.

That's too close for my liking.

 

[Wozzy]

Thornton is not starting with the Chiefs this year. At least not yet. ESPN and other sports sites has him listed as a starter. But the Chiefs do not.

And if he does start, it isn't necessarily because he is starter worthy. It is because other than Rice and Worthy, he is the only WR on the Chiefs' roster with more than three career receptions in the NFL. The Chiefs have really set up Mahomes for failure with his receiving corp. Hell, they didn't even draft a WR until the 5th round. It is worse than some of the years with Brady having nothing.

I fully expect the Chiefs to add a veteran receiver before the start of the season. It may be Diggs if he doesn't go to Washington. Hell, they might trade for Boutte. Although I expect Wolf to ask for a premium to trade in conference especially to a team that is in Super Bowl contention like the Chiefs.

I checked the Chiefs website before I posted, they have nobody listed in the starting position. They didn’t pay him 7 million bucks to not play, but that’s a bold take.

 

[Wozzy]

he is a starter until Wozzy says he isn't

You told us Chuks Okorafor was a starter, maybe sit this one out.

 

[BTTA]

This is one of those topics where you have to be seeking misery to care at this point.

 

[upstater1]

I think missing on AJ Brown over Harry is worse than missing on McConkey over Polk. AJ Brown has a long track record of being a top WR in the league. McConkey, at least thus far, has one year. And was McConkey as good as his stats say in his rookie season or was he Herbert's only receiving option? Last year he had very mediocre stats for a #1 WR. Granted he was still thrown to a lot last year, he just had a below average catch rate.

You're assuming it was a choice between McConkey in Polk. It could've been a choice between Polk and Cooper DeJean, we don't know.

Missing on AJ Brown is a bigger miss than missing on DeJean, but this is the kind of hindsight that can happen each and every draft. There will be future HOFers in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

The bigger question is the 2 players themselves.

Pretend you were evaluating their film, pretend you saw them play in college, you knew their size, their measurables. Pretend they are player A and player B. Both are going to be busts, but with one of them, the selection makes more sense than the other.

Remember, in 2019, 9 different WRs were taken in the first 2 rounds. All but 3 of them busted. Deebo, AJ and Metcalf. There were several busts other than Harry, so in hindsight, you can say you would've been one of the smart ones who took one of the 3, but in reality, there were 6 other Dodo GMs who took the busts.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

oh. You meant N'keal Harry.

Sorry, shout-out for the old guard!

 

[Rob0729]

I checked the Chiefs website before I posted, they have nobody listed in the starting position. They didn’t pay him 7 million bucks to not play, but that’s a bold take.

Did I say he wouldn't play? He got a two year $11 million contract with $7.4 million guaranteed. That is back up money these days.

 

[Rob0729]

You're assuming it was a choice between McConkey in Polk. It could've been a choice between Polk and Cooper DeJean, we don't know.

Missing on AJ Brown is a bigger miss than missing on DeJean, but this is the kind of hindsight that can happen each and every draft. There will be future HOFers in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

The bigger question is the 2 players themselves.

Pretend you were evaluating their film, pretend you saw them play in college, you knew their size, their measurables. Pretend they are player A and player B. Both are going to be busts, but with one of them, the selection makes more sense than the other.

Remember, in 2019, 9 different WRs were taken in the first 2 rounds. All but 3 of them busted. Deebo, AJ and Metcalf. There were several busts other than Harry, so in hindsight, you can say you would've been one of the smart ones who took one of the 3, but in reality, there were 6 other Dodo GMs who took the busts.

I don't know who they might have drafted instead of Polk. All the Pats fans talk about McConkey though. I tend to doubt they would have drafted him because they had Pop Douglas and they were high on him. So a slot WR was not a high need especially with McConkey's injury history.

But a lot of people expected the Pats to draft AJ Brown including AJ Brown. Reports were that the Patriots scouts were pushing Belichick to draft Brown or Deebo Samuel, but Belichick took Harry on the advice of Todd Graham, Harry's coach and close friend of Belichick, despite the scouts saying he had too many red flags.

From Albert Breer:

"It also, as some saw it, led to misses like N'Keal Harry in 2019. Harry killed his 30 visit that spring and had a college coach, Todd Graham, who was close to Belichick. In that end, without more input from scouts who preferred Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown, the coach wound up leaning on his own experience with Harry, rather than the red flags his scouts planted, and lost a golden opportunity to fill a hole on his roster."

MMQB: Sean Payton Discusses the Taysom Hill Vs. Jameis Winston Competition to Replace Drew Brees

The Saints' coach talks about how the team prepared well in advance for it's long-time QB's retirement. Plus, the NFL's new plan to grow internationally, scouts dish on Justin Fields's pro day, non-QBs who helped themselves at pro days and more.

www.si.com

 

[Wozzy]

Did I say he wouldn't play? He got a two year $11 million contract with $7.4 million guaranteed. That is back up money these days.

That amounts to a one year deal for 7.4 million. They also let Marquise Brown and Juju walk out the door with little done in free agency or the draft at the WR position.

But let’s ask the head coach:

Head coach Andy Reid explicitly stated in April 2026 that the team anticipates "opening up a little bit more of the package" for Thornton. After primarily using him as a deep threat last season, Reid confirmed that Thornton "can do all the stuff," signaling an intent to utilize him more versatilely across the offense.

On top of consistent reports Thornton running with the ones in camp. So there’s that…

 

[reflexblue]

I can finally see your posts!

I know. Somehow you and sb1 got put on mute. last year i never checked mute just ignore. I would never have intentionally put you and sb1 on either.

 

[scott99]

Harry was such a colossal bust that he put the final nail in Brady's Patriots career. If they had drafted AJ Brown, DK Metcalf, or Deebo, the Brady to Tampa thing NEVER happens.

Might just be the most impactful bust in NFL history.

I agree, Brady just wanted good weapons for the end of his career. They could’ve had 2 of the receivers you mentioned, and imagine how explosive the Pat’s offense would’ve been.

 

[upstater1]

I don't know who they might have drafted instead of Polk. All the Pats fans talk about McConkey though. I tend to doubt they would have drafted him because they had Pop Douglas and they were high on him. So a slot WR was not a high need especially with McConkey's injury history.

But a lot of people expected the Pats to draft AJ Brown including AJ Brown. Reports were that the Patriots scouts were pushing Belichick to draft Brown or Deebo Samuel, but Belichick took Harry on the advice of Todd Graham, Harry's coach and close friend of Belichick, despite the scouts saying he had too many red flags.

From Albert Breer:

"It also, as some saw it, led to misses like N'Keal Harry in 2019. Harry killed his 30 visit that spring and had a college coach, Todd Graham, who was close to Belichick. In that end, without more input from scouts who preferred Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown, the coach wound up leaning on his own experience with Harry, rather than the red flags his scouts planted, and lost a golden opportunity to fill a hole on his roster."

MMQB: Sean Payton Discusses the Taysom Hill Vs. Jameis Winston Competition to Replace Drew Brees

The Saints' coach talks about how the team prepared well in advance for it's long-time QB's retirement. Plus, the NFL's new plan to grow internationally, scouts dish on Justin Fields's pro day, non-QBs who helped themselves at pro days and more.

www.si.com

But this doesn't change the thinking back then.

Harry was considered a talent. The compilation of all mock drafts still shows that the Patriots took him AFTER most people thought he would be taken.

As for Polk, he went at least a round earlier than the compilation predicted.

 

[Rob0729]

That amounts to a one year deal for 7.4 million. They also let Marquise Brown and Juju walk out the door with little done in free agency or the draft at the WR position.

But let’s ask the head coach:

Head coach Andy Reid explicitly stated in April 2026 that the team anticipates "opening up a little bit more of the package" for Thornton. After primarily using him as a deep threat last season, Reid confirmed that Thornton "can do all the stuff," signaling an intent to utilize him more versatilely across the offense.

On top of consistent reports Thornton running with the ones in camp. So there’s that…

One year $7.4 million is still not starter money. And if they are giving a 25 year old WR (about to be 26) who has been on the team one year a glorified one year deal, they are not guaranteeing that guy a starting role. It isn't like Thornton is 30 and they aren't willing to commit to a long term deal because of his age.

And Rashee Rice had surgery in May. They are managing him right now. That is why Thornton is getting playing time with the ones.

 

[Rob0729]

But this doesn't change the thinking back then.

Harry was considered a talent. The compilation of all mock drafts still shows that the Patriots took him AFTER most people thought he would be taken.

As for Polk, he went at least a round earlier than the compilation predicted.

There was a lot of praise of the Polk pick at the time. Evan Lazar had him as the 24th best player in that draft. Walter Football gave the Pats an A grade for the pick. SB Nation gave the pick a B+ grade. Phil Perry gave it a B grade. So did Bleecher Report.

RAS Football gave him a 9.11 grade.



A lot of people liked the Polk pick at the time. Probably more than people liked Harry in the first. Few were saying they would rather have Ladd McConkey than Polk because McConkey was not rated where he went either. A lot of people were saying the Pats should have taken Deebo Samuel or AJ Brown over Harry.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

call it a tie and move on

 

[TheRainMaker]

I know. Somehow you and sb1 got put on mute. last year i never checked mute just ignore. I would never have intentionally put you and sb1 on either.

To clarify, I know a glitch where I can see anyone posts and can tell if they have me on ignore (which aren't many). Now I can receive alerts from you and see posts normally.