Redskins: Why Kelvin Harmon fell in the 2019 NFL Draft

Kelvin Harmon fell into the Washington Redskins’ lap in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Here’s why he slid further than most expected.

In the leadup to the 2019 NFL Draft, Kelvin Harmon was considered by many to be a likely Day 2 pick at the receiver position. The big-bodied man from NC State had posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and appeared to have the makings of a strong possession receiver for the NFL level.

However, Harmon didn’t go on Day 2 of the draft. He didn’t even go early on Day 3. He suffered a very big fall and was finally taken by the Redskins late in the sixth round of the draft. It was considered by many to be a great value pick by the ‘Skins. Harmon could end up being a steal because of his skill set, but there certainly was a reason that he fell.

Every year, WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell produces a series of articles about players that fell in the draft and guys that went undrafted. He talks to scouts and sources to get an explanation of why they fell. This year, Harmon was one of the players that he wrote about, and this is what he said about the NC State product.

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"The big issue that really hurt Harmon throughout the draft process was a concern around that league that he was too slow for the next level. Sources from numerous teams said they had concerns that Harmon would not be able to separate from NFL cornerbacks. The speed worries were validated with a slow 40 time at the combine. On top of the speed issue, some sources said they felt Harmon was stiff and will struggle to separate off press-man coverage. They felt that he is a good receiver, but not a top-three-type receiver for an NFL roster and had limited special teams value. Hence, he slid deep into the 2019 NFL Draft."

This explanation certainly makes sense. On tape, Harmon doesn’t demonstrate breakaway speed and typically had issues separating from opposing defensive backs. His 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash certainly caused him to fall behind some other similar receivers who posted better athletic testing numbers. Still, it was surprising to see him fall so far because of the skills he did showcase when on the field.

Harmon shows excellent ability to make contested catches over opposing defensive backs and has great play strength, so that is a plus for him. That said, it’s worth wondering if he will be able to find similar success against bigger, stronger, faster NFL defensive backs and whether or not that potential success will be immediate.

The best case for Harmon will be to become an Alshon Jeffery-type player in the NFL. Jeffery has better athletic ability than Harmon, but they have a similar playing style, as they like to win contested catches and go up for jump balls. Harmon may not reach Jeffery’s level, but if he can be a solid possession receiver, that will make him a decent No. 2 option.

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Given the reason that Harmon fell, it will be important not to expect too much of him as a rookie. He may push Josh Doctson for playing time eventually, but for the time being, Harmon should be viewed as a late pick with extremely high upside. He’s likely a shoo-in for the 53-man roster but until he proves that he can separate more, it will be hard for the team to trust him as a starter.

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