Jaguars roster: There’s no room for WR N’Keal Harry in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job of replenishing the roster this offseason. Fortunately, they had a few positional groups that weren’t in need of much help. The wide receiver corps was one of those them and is arguable the team’s strongest units ahead of training camp. For that reason, it was kind of surprising to hear a recent suggestion regarding New England Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry.

Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report recently drew up a list of possible trade destinations for the former first-round pick and Jacksonville showed up. Gagnon thinks the Jaguars should give Harry a shot, as it’s unclear how DJ Chark Jr and Laviska Shenault Jr. will fare in the team’s new offensive system. He also notes that Marvin Jones Jr. “has a pretty clear ceiling”, so it wouldn’t hurt to bring in the 32nd overall selection in 2019’s draft.

Gagnon says that Harry could become the team’s number-four wide receiver. He later jokes that the Arizona State product should change his name to ‘N’Keal Harry Jr.” to fit in, as the Jags’ top three wideouts have the suffix “Jr.” Gagnon also mentions the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chicago Bears, the Houston Texans, the Washington Football Team and the Los Angeles Chargers as other potential trade partners. Looking at this list, Jacksonville might make the least sense.

Harry’s agent recently requested a trade on behalf of his client. He thinks “it’s time for a fresh start and best for both parties if N’Keal moves on before the start of training camp”. The truth is that the former Sun Devil has been a non-factor over his two-year career, hauling in 45 receptions for 414 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a surplus of playmakers at wide receiver.

The Jaguars have a well-rounded wide receiver unit. They have a talented starting trio but also have adequate depth. Collin Johnson displayed flashes last season and earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 73.4 last season, the highest among Jacksonville’s rookie class. Also, the team’s brass signed Phillip Dorsett in free agency. You could argue the Miami product hasn’t performed like a first-round pick but at least the Jags know what they have in him.

Meanwhile, Harry hasn’t done much of note over during his tenure in Foxborough. He missed nine games in his rookie campaign and two in 2020. You simply can’t have an impact if you can’t stay healthy. Moreover, the Patriots signed Nelson Aghlor and Kendrick Bourne this offseason, so it looks like New England’s confidence in Harry waning.

If the Jaguars lacked depth or didn’t have or didn’t have better options, it would be worth kicking the tires on Harry but that’s not the case. It’s not even a sure thing he would make the team, so why should the team give away picks for someone who may not add value to the wide receiver corps? Even if the Jags suffered an injury in training camp, they already signed Pharoh Cooper and Laquon Treadwell.

Harry is barely 23, so he still has time to turn things around if given a shot. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely that the Jaguars will be the ones granting the wide receiver that one chance.