N’Keal Harry’s Move to Tight End Offers Big Potential
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The chatter surrounding the Minnesota Vikings’ offense this offseason has mostly been surrounding the quarterback. For good reason, too, as a big change was made this offseason. Although the success of the Vikings offense might start with that position, the moves made to surround Sam Darnold and JJ McCarthy with talent are just as important. The signing of Aaron Jones should pay key dividends, but there is one move that everyone seems to be overlooking, one that could unlock the offense: N’Keal Harry moving to tight end.
Harry was selected 32nd overall by the New England Patriots in the 2018 NFL Draft after being a standout with the Arizona State Sun Devils. Harry has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but his inability to separate from defensive backs has been what has most limited his ability to reach his potential. His best year came with the Patriots in 2020, when he caught 33 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. He became a solid enough option, but not what the Patriots were looking for in their first-round pick. Harry signed with the Vikings last August and bounced around from the active roster and practice squad throughout 2023. He was signed to the active roster in October but never caught a pass.
In January, he signed a reserve/future contract, and there wasn’t much buzz around him until early June when Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Harry was making the move over to tight end.
“N’Keal is really fired up about it,” O’Connell said. “He has attacked the process, long before we even got started in the offseason program. But you’re hoping to see the receiving traits lead the way early on, as they get a little more comfort in maybe having their hand down, being a part of run schemes, the different kind of run schemes that we’re implementing, and N’Keal has shown that. … At this stage in his career, a position change is unique, but we’re hoping we’re developing a guy who can be a real third-down weapon, red-zone weapon, with his skill set.”
There is no doubt that Harry is excited about the team and willing to try anything to secure a spot on the active roster. Even though the wide receiver room might not be very deep after Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, there probably wasn’t much of a path for him to make the roster at wide receiver. If he did make it, he very well could have been in a position to bounce from the active roster to the practice squad once again.
Even though Harry might be buried on the tight-end depth chart right now, there is a real chance he can have a big impact on the team this year if he impresses during training camp. Star tight end TJ Hockenson suffered a devastating ACL and MCL injury during Week 16 of last season, and it’s unclear when he’s going to be back this season.
Harry will need to line up on the offensive line at times, but he could most excel by standing up off the line, a role where Hockenson thrived in last year with the Vikings. Heading into his draft, the talk about Harry was his potential as a mismatch against linebackers. But there were (founded, it turned out) concerns about his ability to get open.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports gave the following scouting report: “Harry has great hands, can line up anywhere on the field, and he effectively excels in the screen game. His size makes him a tough matchup for any defensive back and most linebackers. The big concern is with his ability to separate, but he regularly wins the contested-catch battle. “
Although Harry has had issues winning off the line against linebackers in the NFL, lining up at tight end will give him much more favorable matchups. Especially in the end zone, he has always been good at hauling in tough catches, and having him line up against linebackers will be perfect in the Vikings lineup to give Darnold or McCarthy another weapon.
The big concern still has to be how he will do in the run-blocking game, but even if he is just used as a short-yardage or red zone tight end, it will be worth keeping him on the roster. Even if Hockenson is back early in the season, another weapon catching the ball is just what the Vikings need at tight end. Harry has an opportunity to extend his career with the position change, and the Vikings are hoping they’ve found themselves another weapon. Maybe Harry isn’t a bust, after all; it’s just that everyone else had been using him in the wrong position.
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