Detroit Lions 2019 NFL Draft Profile: Wide Receiver N’Keal Harry

Weapons are essential to an offense. The Detroit Lions need more and can find great value in the draft at the wide receiver position.

It’s the month of the NFL Draft and the pre-draft visits are in full swing. One prospect of many who’s on the Detroit Lions radar is wide receiver N’Keal Harry.

For three years, Arizona State had the privilege to watch Harry in a Sun Devils uniform. Though not a man that’s broken many records, it’s the tackles he’d broken that really stand out.

Harry possesses unreal physicality. Evidence of that was his 27 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine. Has a solid, compact frame and well-built physique (228 pounds). Height is ideal (6-foot-2) too. Shows an abusive, angry running style once the ball’s in his hands.

Getting the three-year starter and back-to-back 1,000+ yard receiver down is no easy task. He’s your classic run after the catch play-maker, suitable to thriving underneath. Superb explosiveness and change of direction skills allowed him to make defenders look silly and on a few occasions, score wild, highlight-reel touchdowns receptions (22 career total)

Not just limited to short-intermediate routes, Harry is a deep ball specialist with good hands combined and the contortion ability of a gymnast. Combine those traits together, and you have a real nightmare on your hands.

Athletically, offenses can use him in a variety of ways, not just catching the ball, but running it (3 career touchdowns). He was even used in the Wildcat formation, and on rare occasions, as a passer (one career touchdown and interception).

The only knock to his game is a less than spectacular top gear. His speed isn’t elite but that’s not a total deal breaker. To combat the lack of separation he’ll struggle to get from faster defenders, the route running will need refining and cleaning up.

Harry isn’t limited to just offense. In 2018, he expanded his game and proved himself as a capable punt returner (one career touchdown). Awareness and vision are obvious on tape so it wouldn’t surprise me if teams asked him to get involved as a kick returner as well. As a matter of fact, the Detroit Lions plan to meet with the projected late first-early second rounder.

One thing is certain, N’Keal Harry is on the NFL’s sonar. A dependable wide receiver that can bail out an offense and make the tough catches. Teams always need guys like him.