Redskins wide receiver Maurice Harris signs with New England Patriots
By Ian Cummings
The Redskins receiving core is set to be overhauled in 2019, and a recent departure compounds that truth.
It was revealed yesterday that the Washington Redskins did not issue any franchise tenders to restricted free agents, thus releasing them to the open market. The players in question, Rob Kelley and Maurice Harris, were mainly marginal contributors in recent years, but Harris received some interest upon hitting the market.
The interest displayed toward Harris ultimately culminated in a visit with the New England Patriots, and he visited the Patriots’ facility today, along with free agent receiver Bruce Ellington. The Patriots signed Ellington first, but now, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, they’ve signed Harris as well.
#Patriots are signing former #Redskins WR Maurice Harris, source says. He was there on a visit with Bruce Ellington, who also will sign with New England, as @RapSheet said earlier.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2019
Harris, 26, joined the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and amassed 40 receptions for 432 yards and a touchdown in his three seasons with the team. He broke out into a bigger role in 2018, logging 304 yards on 28 receptions over a span of twelve games. Although Harris never became a premier receiver, his attention to detail and reliability in key situations made him a competent target. He’s best known for his one-handed catch against the Vikings last year, a catch that was one of the NFL’s best of the 2017 season.
Harris joins the Patriots as a relatively young player with his game still largely an unknown. He’s a workmanlike receiver, but during his time in New England, he could ultimately unlock more of his potential. Even in New England’s relatively thin receiving core, Harris could face an uphill battle, but one could argue he’s the kind of player who sticks around with the Patriots.
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Meanwhile, the Redskins will look to instill their receiving core with depth, in order to replace Harris, over the course of the offseason. After losing Jamison Crowder to the Jets, the Redskins are in need of both starting talent and depth in that area, and in the coming days, it will be interesting to see if they show interest in any of the remaining free agent receivers.