New England Patriots: Wide receiver Maurice Harris the surprise star of early minicamp

Can veteran wide receiver Maurice Harris make a legitimate impact for the New England Patriots this season? Early minicamp reports suggest that he is well on his way.

The New England Patriots will enter the 2019 season with serious questions at the wide receiver position. Julian Edelman is back and will likely be as reliable as ever, but besides him, there are a lot of question marks at the position.

First-round rookie N’Keal Harry has obvious long-term upside, but it is never easy for a rookie pass catcher to make an early impact in the Pats’ offense. Phillip Dorsett has proven to be a solid target for Tom Brady, but he is unlikely to be anything more than a role player. Demaryius Thomas has obviously had success in the past, but his best days are clearly behind him.

At this point, there is clearly an opportunity for a surprise contributor or two to make a real impact for the New England Patriots at the wide receiver position. Based on early reports out of minicamp, Maurice Harris seems to be ready to be that contributor.

Harris was non-tendered by the Washington Redskins this offseason and scooped up by the Patriots on a one-year, $1 million contract. With only $90,000 of his contract guaranteed, Harris is far from guaranteed a roster spot to start the season. That being said, he appears to be well on his way.

According to Doug Kyed of NESN, Harris is running with the starters early in minicamp and is making quite the impression.

"“Harris running with the starters in minicamp and making the most of his opportunities,” Kyed wrote. “Harris leads the Patriots in team-drill receptions with 11 through two days of minicamp. He’s second on the team with six receptions in 11-on-11 drills. He also leads the Patriots with seven catches in team drills from Tom Brady through two practices.”“Harris is splitting his time as an outside receiver and in the slot,” Kyed continued. “And though he doesn’t fit the mold of a typical Patriots slot receiver, he’s comfortable in the role despite primarily playing outside for three seasons with the Redskins.”"

We all know how much the Patriots love versatility out of their players. If Harris can prove to be a reliable target for Brady both in the slot and on the outside, he could quickly find himself in a large role in the offense.

The Patriots took a chance on Harris after he showed some promise in Washington last season. He finished the 2018 season with 304 yards on 28 receptions, showing smooth route running ability and reliable hands all over the field.

Harris’ breakout performance came in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons last season. In that game, Harris hauled in 10 receptions for 124 yards, tearing apart the Falcons’ secondary all day long.

While I would not expect that kind of performance on a regular basis, Harris showed obvious upside in that game. It is as simple as this; the New England Patriots clearly have a need for more reliable wide receivers and Harris is showing the ability to fill that role for the team.