Did N’Keal Harry Willingly End His Vikings Tenure?

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When the Minnesota Vikings signed N’Keal Harry, the move could have been announced under the premise that he was a former first-round pick. That would have been true, but not reflective of the production he had provided throughout his career. Now he’s on the outside looking in, and the look isn’t pretty.

Did N’Keal Harry Willingly End His Vikings Tenure?

During minicamp, it was revealed that the former New England Patriots first-round wide receiver was moving to tight end. That was noteworthy in and of itself, but it was even more jarring considering Kevin O’Connell’s current situation at the wide receiver position.

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As things stand, the only guarantee for Minnesota’s wide receivers is that Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will be the top two. The third wide receiver position remains among the most unsettled spots on the roster, and many players could take the job. Brandon Powell should be seen as the favorite, and Jalen Nailor will challenge him. Maybe Trent Sherfield forces his way in, or it could be someone not even on the roster. Harry is not among the considerations though, and that’s jarring.

Needing to switch positions in order to retain a shred of relevance, Harry is also buried on the depth chart in his new spot. T.J. Hockenson is going to start the season on the sidelines, and he should be expected to miss a considerable amount of time. That makes Robert Tonyan the primary pass-catching option, with Josh Oliver returning to his blocking role. Both Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse are likely ahead of Harry as well.

N'Keal Harry
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver N’Keal Harry addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center during 2023 Training Camp. Harry joined the Vikings in August of 2023 and previously played for the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. Harry joined the NFL in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Harry has topped 200 yards in a season just once. He has five touchdowns in 49 career games. Despite being active nine times for Minnesota last year, he wasn’t targeted on a single pass. To suggest his career has gone poorly, especially for a first-round pick, would be putting it lightly.

Minnesota approaching Harry, or the player approaching the team, to suggest a position change is telling. Both sides know they are on their last leg with one another, and figuring out any way to salvage something and make it work is a must. I’m not set on this being the answer for Harry. While it is possible another organization may have a greater role for him, he has done little to suggest there is any reason to make room.

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports.

The Vikings will remain focused on the third wideout going into training camp and beyond. Unfortunately, Harry cannot factor in, and he will learn everything on the fly in his new role.


Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.