Things could get tight for the Patriots’ existing receiver group in terms of the 53-man roster at the start of the season, with N’Keal Harry in particular likely to be sidelined. The latter has now officially requested a trade.

Equipped with plenty of cap space, the New England Patriots were quite aggressive in free agency, especially on the offensive side, Bill Belichick and Co. let it rip in the transfer market. This is now causing changes in the existing roster.

Harry with trade request

As reported by Mike Garafolo of the “NFL Network”, the agent of wide receiver N’Keal Harry has submitted an official trade request to the Patriots. “After countless conversations, it’s best for both parties if my client switches teams before the start of training camp,” said his adviser Jamal Tooson. 

Thus, he said, the expectations of both parties have been disappointed in the course of working together, making a fresh start inevitable. “The expectations of him have not changed since draft day and he understands that the key to success is opportunity,” it concluded. 

Whether it would have remained a collaboration even without a possible trade is open to doubt. In the wake of the squad shake-up following Free Agency, a roster spot for Harry would have been tight anyway. 

Roster spot not secured

As “ESPN” previously reported, the roster spot for N’Keal Harry would have been anything but assured in the 53-man squad next season. The 23-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2019 draft by the Patriots and has long been considered a long-term hope at the receiver position. 

Partly due to injuries, however, Harry has never been able to live up to his potential and has so far failed to live up to his value as a first-round pick. In 21 games so far, he has 414 receiving yards on 45 receptions and four touchdowns caught;

According to the report, the receiver could ultimately benefit from his favourable contract situation for the team, meaning the Patriots would still have to pay him even if he were released. However, whether he makes the final roster, possibly lingers on the practice squad or is traded will be decided during training camp.

Considering the wide receivers who were selected in the 2019 draft after Harry and have since matured into stars in the NFL, the pick at the time continues to cause headaches for many fans. Players such as D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Brown and Terry McLaurin, for example, were all selected after the current Patriots receiver. 

Patriots active in transfer market

In addition to tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, the Patriots have also been active on the receiver market. Two veteran pass receivers in Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne were lured to Foxborough for big money, while Jakobi Meyers also developed into a starter last season

.