Should Rams be talking to Patriots about WR N’Keal Harry?

We all know that the Rams don’t have any future first round picks, but could they secure some past ones?

The New England Patriots are shopping wide receiver N’Keal Harry, the 32nd overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Arizona State. Harry, 6’4, 225 lbs, has struggled immensely in his effort to become a consistent receiving threat on a team that desperately needed one. As a rookie, Harry caught 12 of 24 targets for 105 yards and two touchdowns over seven games while playing with Tom Brady.

Then last season, Harry caught 33 of 57 targets for 309 yards and two touchdowns over 14 games with Cam Newton and company. One of his best career performances came in New England’s 24-3 loss to the Rams in Week 14 of last season: three catches on four targets for 49 yards. There was some hope that he was showing “improvement” at that time but the Patriots have expressed no faith in that reality.

New England has signed Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor, and Kendrick Bourne this offseason, while expecting to return Julian Edelman, Jakobi Meyers, and 2020 third round tight ends Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi. There appears to be no place for Harry.

Should the Rams see what it will cost to acquire him?

LA has signed DeSean Jackson as a potential deep threat, but they could still have an opening for a “big” target with the departure of Josh Reynolds to the Titans. I’m not endorsing Harry as a move that will solve any issues for the Rams — I personally think people get way too enamored with the “first round pick” label and there’s been little reward for going after the next “Laquon Treadwell” types — but what if he’s available for a seventh round pick?

The Rams and Patriots have made similar calls before, including the Brandin Cooks trade in 2018.