A position shift to discuss
As the Minnesota Vikings start their mandatory mini-camp, it appears they’re taking a look at the current roster in an attempt to alleviate their issues at the tight end position.
At his press conference following today’s workouts in Eagan, head coach Kevin O’Connell said that wide receiver N’Keal Harry was being shifted from that position to tight end. Here’s what O’Connell said about the move.
Any time you’re looking to transition a receiver to the tight end position – and N’Keal is really fired up about it, he has attacked the process long before we even got started in the offseason program – you’re hoping to see the receiving traits kind of lead the way early on, as they get a little bit more comfort in having their hand down, being part of run schemes...and N’Keal has shown that.
Harry was a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Arizona State. He spent his first three seasons with New England before being traded to the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2022 season. The Bears chose not to bring him back and he signed with the Vikings during Training Camp in 2023.
To this point, Harry has not caught a pass with the Vikings, but he has appeared nine games for the team, mostly on special teams.
This could, potentially, be an interesting move. Harry really doesn’t have much of a chance to stick as a wide receiver with the Vikings at this point, but he could present an option at tight end. His size could work against him, as he’s listed at 6’4” and 225 pounds on the Vikings’ roster page. That makes him the smallest tight end on the roster as things stand right now, about ten pounds lighter than Johnny Mundt. There’s also the question of whether or not he can block well enough to stick at tight end, but his receiving skills could give him the opportunity to stick at that spot, particularly with T.J. Hockenson’s status still up in the air.
What do you think of N’Keal Harry moving to the tight end spot, folks? Is it something to potentially keep an eye on or not really that big a deal?
