New England Patriots: 5 players better off without Tom Brady

New England Patriots 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry has something to prove.

It wasn’t the rookie season many expected out of 2019 first-round draft pick N’Keal Harry, but it was certainly a learning experience for the 6-foot-4 talent.

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Sidelined half the season with a hamstring injury, Harry never really got an opportunity to build any chemistry with Tom Brady.  That doesn’t mean the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback didn’t try to connect with the Arizona State product.

With just 12 receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns in seven game played, there are still some fashioning N’Keal Harry as a bust despite his limited time on the field.  But there were still some very nice moments and glimpses of what he can be in the Patriots offense.

We all remember the touchdown that was called back against the Kansas City Chiefs.  Harry demonstrated both strength and balance in tiptoeing the sidelines for a should’ve been touchdown.  There were also instances like his first game against the Dallas Cowboys where he went up and over defenders for catches.

Earlier in his career, the type of receiver Harry is would’ve been beneficial to Tom Brady.  He probably would’ve had a better second season with Brady, but with a quarterback like Jarrett Stidham there will be more opportunities to make the type of plays he made at Arizona State.

Harry’s former college coach, Herm Edwards, feels the tall, talented receiver is poised to breakout in his second season.

"“Knowing N’Keal, he has gained some confidence with the experience that he had,” Edwards said back in May, via USA Today.  “I think he’ll enjoy (the increased pressure).  He kind of loves that.  That’s the competitiveness in him.  He enjoys that part of it – when it’s hard.  He likes hard.  He knows right now he has a window to grow up with this quarterback that they have (in Jarrett Stidham), because the quarterback doesn’t have a lot of experience either.”"

In summary, a more watered-down offensive playbook should benefit a talent like N’Keal Harry tremendously.

Along with having something to prove to the doubter, the Arizona State product will prove Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots made the right choice in selecting him with the 30th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.