Deonte Harty signs with Baltimore Ravens, per report

Harty heads to familiar roots in a return to play for his hometown Ravens

Last offseason, the Buffalo Bills signed free-agent receiver/return specialist Deonte Harty to a two-year contract. But after a mostly quiet first season with the team, the Bills decided to move on from Harty last month.

A little over a month into the new league year, Harty has found a new NFL home with the Baltimore Ravens. For Harty, it represents a homecoming in returning to play for his hometown team.

The Bills’ signing of Harty was met with a good deal of excitement, for the diminutive jack-of-all-trades receiver carried an All-Pro selection and had previously caught the attention of general manager Brandon Beane. Harty was thought by most to be the player most likely to occupy the role left vacant by wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie. Yet, though he proved capable when involved, Harty was often left out of the main mix similarly to McKenzie.

That is, apart from one very memorable punt return touchdown in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins. Deonte Harty took the football 96 yards to pay dirt, providing the needed catalyst that propelled the Bills to victory and their fourth-straight AFC East Division title.

For his efforts to close out the regular season, Deonte Harty was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week — while also claiming a $250,000 bonus in the process for averaging 10.0 or more yards per punt return. Additionally, the 96-yard return now stands as the longest punt return in Buffalo Bills franchise history.

In his one season with the Bills, Harty played in 16 games (making one start), and caught 15 passes (on 21 targets) for 150 yards and one touchdown. In two postseason appearances with Buffalo, Harty caught two passes (on two targets) for 37 yards.

(stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference)

While Harty’s stats don’t immediately jump off the page, his efficiency as a receiver stands out — and may further illustrate the frustrating lack of ability by the Bills to better-utilize him and the rest of the team’s receivers not name Stefon Diggs.