Should the Ravens go after N’Keal Harry?

The Baltimore Ravens made it a point to revamp their wide receiver room during the 2021 offseason. They added Sammy Watkins in free agency while also drafting both Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace. However, despite the efforts they’ve already made, could Baltimore look to add yet another pass catcher to their already improved receiver group?

Jamal Tooson, the agent of New England Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry, released a statement on Tuesday formally requesting a trade on behalf of his client. Tooson noted how 86 targets through two seasons have not been up to the expectations that the wide reciever and the organization had when Harry was drafted.

Statement from #Patriots WR N’Keal Harry’s agent Jamal Tooson, who has formally requested a trade for the 2019 first-round pick. pic.twitter.com/3xdJbbar28

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 6, 2021

With New England having the up-and-coming Jakobi Meyers while also signing both Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor in free agency, there might not be a lot of opportunity for Harry in a Patriots uniform. With that being said, should the Ravens pursue the seemingly disgruntled wide receiver?

In short, the answer is no. After being selected with the 32nd pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Harry has caught 45 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns. He hasn’t been nearly the player that New England expected when they drafted him, and that comes down to multiple factors including injuries and an overall lack of development in some areas.

Harry wouldn’t cost nearly as much from a draft capital (and contract money) perspective as a player such as Tennessee Titans wideout Julio Jones, but even so, it seems like his path in the NFL so far has been similar to current Ravens’ receiver Miles Boykin, who is also a big-bodied pass catcher who hasn’t quite been able to put it all together quite yet.

Despite all of the reasons why a potential move for Harry doesn’t make sense for Baltimore, it is certainly possible that the team could entertain the idea of trading for the former first-round pick. The former Arizona State Sun Devil was extremely productive in college as a jump ball receiver who could win in contested catch situations, and has a skill set that could be maximized with the right coaching and opportunity. Coaches such as Tee Martin and Keith Williams could be just the right people to help Harry unlock his full potential.

While Harry certainly has a lot of room to turn things around after a slow start to his NFL career, there just isn’t a lot of room on the Ravens’ roster for the third-year wide receiver. The additions of Watkins, Bateman, and Wallace combined with returning players such as Boykin, Marquise Brown, Devin Duvernay and James Proche make it hard for Harry to even be guaranteed a roster spot if traded for by Baltimore, let alone be provided with plenty of opportunities to produce.