The N'Keal Harry era in Foxborough has come to an end. The Patriots have traded the 24-year-old wide receiver to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 seventh-round pick, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
Harry never lived up to his first-round draft slot during his three years in New England, as he struggled to get and stay on the field and never produced at any sort of consistent level. He topped out at 33 catches for 309 yards in 2020, and finishes his Patriots career with just 57 catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns.
Harry got bumped way down the Patriots' wide receiver depth chart with the additions of Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor last year, followed by DeVante Parker and rookie Tyquan Thornton this year. Jakobi Meyers, who was an undrafted free agent the same year that Harry went in the first round (2019), has also proven to be a much better receiver.
The Patriots infamously drafted Harry ahead of the likes of Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Diontae Johnson and Terry McLaurin, who have all gone on to be clear No. 1 receivers with their respective teams.
While that will go down as an all-time draft whiff forever, at least the Patriots are now finally moving on.