How involved will Deonte Harris be in the offense? (1 Viewer)

He has a lot of talent, but I’m not sure it’s the kind of talent that translates to being a consistent WR. There’s a huge difference between returning punts and kicks and running routes and catching passes.

Someone mentioned Tyreek Hill. I can understand why that’s a desired comparison. Hill is phenomenal. Anything close to that would be the equivalent of hitting the jackpot.

Both are fast and smallish. Both are electric with the ball. Besides being a little taller and heavier, Hill has route running and receiving talent. if Harris would have displayed those abilities, he’s have been a sought after draft prospect. Could he develop that kind of ability? Sure, anything is possible. Possible and probable are two different things.

If being fast and about the same size as Tyreek was the path to getting that kind of production, you could pick from hundreds of guys with those credentials. It’s more than that though.

I see Harris as a gadget player. A guy who you have certain packages for, but I don’t see him as the full time productive WR type

He did have 810 receiving yards in 13 games in college, although of course it was a small school. You’re right, though. Whether the potential translates to being able to grow into more of a WR role in the NFL is yet to be seen. If he could, my oh my at the potential. I guess all I can think about is him having the ball in space, where he is super dangerous. There’s much more to it than that, though, like running routes and catching the ball. Lol. Just dreaming a little.
 
Tyreek Hill wasn't who the receiver he is now when he first got there, returns was his primary job, they developed him into a WR.

Harris is smaller and yet Payton had said he wanted to increase his touches on offense. I'd be more worried about him getting hurt a few years back before all the rules changed, plus I doubt he'll get more than 10 touches anyway.
 
He reminds me a lot of Dante Hall of the Chiefs in the early 2000s, both in size/build and skillset. Hall was never a "true" WR but during his prime he was getting 30-50 targets per year and the Chiefs had some specific packages/plays designed for him. He ended up having a nice little 9 year career.

I could see Deonte following a similar arc, where he gets some moderate shine on offense alongside being one of the best return guys in the league
(if not the best).
 
I think he's a bit too small for any sort of heavy usage in the NFL. Not knocking him, he's a legit bad%%% return man and has some value as a once in and while dagger... but a down to down offensive weapon? I think we'd seriously risk losing our bad%%% return man.
 
I think Harris has the mentality to play at a very high level, as a WR. Now that he has settled in as a PR specialist, he can concentrate on becoming a very dynamic threat as a WR. I think Payton and co. know what they have in as far as a WR goes, thus there was no urgency (like most in this forum thought) to move up in the draft, to nab one of the best WR prospects.

I am in no way thinking he will become one of the best WR’s in the league, obviously, but I do think he has the potential to be a big contributor to the Saints.
 

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