Bills sign WR Deonte Harty

[swiper]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former Saints’ WR Deonte Harty reached agreement on a two-year deal with the Buffalo Bills, per source. The speedy WR from Assumption University has found a new home in Western New York.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1636002066312118276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[TacklingDummy]

Who?

[Turf]

I think he used to be Deonte Harris.

[swiper]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4411193/deonte-harty

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nfl/players/full/4411193.png&w=350&h=254

[Historian]

The last thing we need is a 5' 6" wide receiver.

SMH....

[THE END OF ALL DAYS]

Huh?

[swiper]

Video of 2022 Saints camp: https://www.neworleanssaints.com/video/deonte-harty-new-orleans-saints-wide-receiver-2022-training-camp-interview

[Woodman]

No OBJ to Dallas so far J/K just a wish.

[swiper]

Bye-bye McKenzie & Beasley.

- - - Updated - - -


Dallas signs OBJ

Phew.

[Woodman]

The last thing we need is a 5' 6" wide receiver.

SMH....

I read one report that he was 5' 7"

- - - Updated - - -


Bye-bye McKenzie & Beasley.

- - - Updated - - -



Phew.
No phew just a wish from GMFB not true!!

OBJ is still out there!
Sorry!!

[Turf]

Could we please get some more linemen. Morse need to be replaced and we need 2 more.

[kgun12]

4 years 64 receptions for 793 yards, championship!

[Forward_Lateral]

This makes absolutely zero sense.

[sahlensguy]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former Saints’ WR Deonte Harty reached agreement on a two-year deal with the Buffalo Bills, per source. The speedy WR from Assumption University has found a new home in Western New York.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1636002066312118276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Where's the beef?

[mightysimi]

2 years 13.5M? I hope they know something we don't.

[kgun12]

2 years 13.5M? I hope they know something we don't.

What?!!!

[mightysimi]

What?!!!


The Bills are adding a speedy return specialist.Buffalo has agreed to a two-year contract with receiver Deonte Harty (https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/football/nfl/player/52311/deonte-harty), according to multiple reports.The deal is worth a maximum of $13.5 million with a $9.5 million base salary and $5 million fully guaranteed.Harty, 25, appeared in only four games last season due to injury. He caught two passes for 13 yards. In 2021, Harty caught 36 passes for 570 yards with three touchdowns.

[sahlensguy]

2 years 13.5M? I hope they know something we don't.

Ygtbfk. Throwing money away. Fits no timeline. Not long term nor is he a win now contributor.

[kgun12]

Thanks!

I guess this is one of those moves where we have to “trust the process”

[sukie]

4.35 40-yard

return specialist and by all stats better than McKenz.

by releasing McKenz bills save 2 million and don’t pay a 250k roster bone

- - - Updated - - -


Ygtbfk. Throwing money away. Fits no timeline. Not long term nor is he a win now contributor.

Eh. He’s 25 and only 5 mil is guaranteed.

[kgun12]

This article says he was an All-Pro?

https://gridironheroics.com/buffalo-bills-set-to-land-all-pro-wide-receiver-from-saints/

[Woodman]

Speed kills and this guy has it!

We must have an assistant OC new to play calling.

Are we finally going to use the speed as a weapon?

Hines and Cook might even get a few catches out of the backfield.

New offense coming!!!!

[Woodman]

This article says he was an All-Pro?

https://gridironheroics.com/buffalo-bills-set-to-land-all-pro-wide-receiver-from-saints/

As a rookie no less.

[sukie]

Perhaps the ability to return is big. Always feared outcomes when McK was center fielding back there.

[senseofdoom]

I'm choosing to believe they signed him to be the new returner because they plan to actually use Hines in the offense and don't want him doing double duty.

[Night Train]

Pitchforks and torches today ?

So 2 years 5 Mil. The only way he can achieve the rest is an incredible amount of incentives. Our new return guy ? Deep threat ? Does this mean Hines is our new pass catching back ? Is McKenzie being cut ? We'll see.

https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/news/buffalo-bills-sign-deonte-harty-free-agency-new-orleans-saints-contract-rumors

[kgun12]

If the return theory is correct, we still need another WR.

[Woodman]

I'm choosing to believe they signed him to be the new returner because they plan to actually use Hines in the offense and don't want him doing double duty.

That's where I'm at with the move as well.

I like the signing more than when I first read about it.

[Woodman]

If the return theory is correct, we still need another WR.

Maybe this guy could do both.

[kingJofNYC]

Swing for the fences type move, they're trying to find lighting in what they perceive to be an underutilized player. Stuff like this fails more often than not but hey, you never know, or so says the lotto saleman on TV.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Assumption University. So, he checks the "loves Jesus" box for McDermott.

[Forward_Lateral]

In fairness, he was hurt most of last year and the year before had nobody throwing him the football. Still makes little sense, especially after they kept Hines

[Woodman]

They know more about than we do I'm sure.

Hines will see more RB action.

[Woodman]

Assumption University. So, he checks the "loves Jesus" box for McDermott.
Promising for all eternity.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Promising for all eternity.
Lots of great "locker room" guys.

No killer instinct.

[Woodman]

Lots of great "locker room" guys.

No killer instinct.

Eternal victory will do.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Eternal victory will do.
:crazy:

[Woodman]

:crazy:

:buddies:

The power of love.

[Saratoga Slim]

Sounds like an explosive returner with developing potential as a receiver that gets hurt most of the time. The contract seems to be a one year prove it deal with a second year the Bills can get out of. Per the BNews (https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/bills-expected-to-sign-former-saints-receiver-deonte-harty-to-two-year-contract/article_e92dc672-c339-11ed-a9d2-135b151eb850.html#tracking-source=home-top-story):

He appeared in just nine games in 2020, missing one game because of a hamstring injury and the final six games of the regular season because of a neck injury. Despite that, he still averaged 2.2 yards per punt return and 27.3 yards per kick return, and made strides as a receiver, catching 20 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. Harty returned from IR in time for the Saints' wild-card playoff win over Chicago, leading the team with seven catches for 83 yards. The following week in the NFC divisional round against Tampa Bay, he returned the Buccaneers' first punt of the game 54 yards to set up a New Orleans field goal. On Tampa Bay's second punt, Hardy went 67 yards to the end zone, but the touchdown was nullified by a New Orleans penalty.

The best season of Harty's career came in 2021, when he played in 13 games and finished with 36 catches for 570 yards and three touchdowns. He finished seventh in the NFL with 15.8 yards per catch, and averaged 9.2 yards per punt return and 23.8 yards per kickoff return.

Harty's 2022 season was cut short by a significant turf toe injury that limited him to just four games. He caught two passes for 13 yards and returned three punts for 8 yards and six kickoffs for 137 yards.

[Woodman]

Lots of great "locker room" guys.

No killer instinct.

19717

[Woodman]

Sounds like an explosive returner with developing potential as a receiver that gets hurt most of the time. The contract seems to be a one year prove it deal with a second year the Bills can get out of. Per the BNews (https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/bills-expected-to-sign-former-saints-receiver-deonte-harty-to-two-year-contract/article_e92dc672-c339-11ed-a9d2-135b151eb850.html#tracking-source=home-top-story):

He appeared in just nine games in 2020, missing one game because of a hamstring injury and the final six games of the regular season because of a neck injury. Despite that, he still averaged 2.2 yards per punt return and 27.3 yards per kick return, and made strides as a receiver, catching 20 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. Harty returned from IR in time for the Saints' wild-card playoff win over Chicago, leading the team with seven catches for 83 yards. The following week in the NFC divisional round against Tampa Bay, he returned the Buccaneers' first punt of the game 54 yards to set up a New Orleans field goal. On Tampa Bay's second punt, Hardy went 67 yards to the end zone, but the touchdown was nullified by a New Orleans penalty.

The best season of Harty's career came in 2021, when he played in 13 games and finished with 36 catches for 570 yards and three touchdowns. He finished seventh in the NFL with 15.8 yards per catch, and averaged 9.2 yards per punt return and 23.8 yards per kickoff return.

Harty's 2022 season was cut short by a significant turf toe injury that limited him to just four games. He caught two passes for 13 yards and returned three punts for 8 yards and six kickoffs for 137 yards.

Explosive I'm good with it!!

19718

[Bill Cody]

So why do we need this guy and Hines?

[Woodman]

So why do we need this guy and Hines?

He's a WR lets just wait and see ..... they see something we are not required to.

[Bill Cody]

He's a WR lets just wait and see ..... they see something we are not required to.

Wait so we're not coaches or GM's on this board?:scratch:

[Saratoga Slim]

It's bargain bin shopping for sure, but at a price we can live with if it doesn't work out.

[Woodman]

Wait so we're not coaches or GM's on this board?:scratch:

Well ....... :roflmao: ......... not even ****ing close.

I haven't fielded any calls as of yet ..... however I am always ready.

[notacon]

Meh.

Maybe this signals the Bills might be actually using Hines in the offense. Harty could fit the sixth WR spot with emphasis on special teams, like Kumerow.

Although Kumerow was not used very much at WR and does not have any speed. The addition of Hardy sure looks like the Bills are not going to re-sign Kumerow which is a good sign they are getting serious in bolstering the WR room.

There is still much more to do on the WR front. Looks like the Bills are waiting out the market.

[Woodman]

It's bargain bin shopping for sure, but at a price we can live with if it doesn't work out.

low risk high reward opportunity.

how will it all be written in history?

Always :gobills:

[Pinkerton Security]

OK so hes a return man...and possible gadget player....but why pay him this much? Seems like this guy would be a 1 year, 2Mill contract kinda guy?

[Woodman]

He's a WR .... with return skills.

Allows Hines to be more involved in our offense.

He's wicked fast.

McKenzie bye bye maybe Beasley :idunno:

I'm glad we don't run this operation.

[YardRat]

They know more about than we do I'm sure.




I'm starting to question that more and more as time goes on.

[YardRat]

Beane likes his shiny new toys, maybe someday one of them will actually work out.

[EDS]

Beane loves offensive skill position players 5'9" and shorter. So weird. Not that hard to find a guy with 4.35 speed these days.

[sukie]

This dude is really fast. A 4.35 is blazing. He’s got break away speed and apparently…HANDS.

[Night Train]

Harty and Hines run in the 4.3's.

They want blazing speed for some plays. We didn't have that before Hines arrived. Now they have 2 of them.

Use them.

[Ed]

Harty and Hines run in the 4.3's.

They want blazing speed for some plays. We didn't have that before Hines arrived. Now they have 2 of them.

Use them.
And they can both be on the field at the same time.

He's an intriguing weapon to add to the mix, and he's not as expensive as that intitial $13.5 mil report. That's just the agent making it sound like a bigger deal than it is. He signed for $4.75 mil guaranteed with a $3.75 mil cap hit in 2023.

[kgun12]

By the look of the contract, they especially Harty are expecting him to contribute at WR. Look at the contact it’s crazy involved!

https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/3/15/23641315/contract-details-for-buffalo-bills-2023-signing-wr-deonte-harty-harris-salary-cap-new-orleans-saints

[Woodman]

I'll betcha a nickel Andy Reid would have loved to land him.

[kgun12]

I'll betcha a nickel Andy Reid would have loved to land him.

Let’s hope Dorsey has a quarter of Reid’s imagination! :rolleyes:

[Woodman]

Let’s hope Dorsey has a quarter of Reid’s imagination! :rolleyes:

Did he get an assistant recently .... because he needs to become a little more innovative .... I believe we went after Harty with something already in mind.

Damn sure hope so.

[jamze132]

That’s an expensive punt catcher right there!

Too bad we gave up on Hodgins…

[DraftBoy]

This is an interesting signing. I don’t know think they signed him to be just a returner based on Beane’s history. He loves to go bargain bin digging hoping to unearth a gem. I would expect Hardy to be the primary punt returner, secondary kick returner, and slot WR.

I don’t think is good for those hoping for a Beasley return.

[Novacane]

Thanks!

I guess this is one of those moves where we have to “trust the process”


That **** has gotten old. The process can go fly a kite.

[Historian]

He's a WR .... with return skills.

Allows Hines to be more involved in our offense.

He's wicked fast.


Okay, so let me get this straight.

You want to take a return guy who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in one game, so as to put him in an offense that passes 85% of the time.

Then sign a 5'6 wide receiver to run one jetsweep every 2-3 games.

Gotcha.

[John Doe]

Harty was not signed to be a prime returner. He muffs punts way too often for that.

Looking at his play on the field as a WR - he looks to have good hands, the ability to get separation, and (of course) deep speed.

If this guy can stay healthy he can add a lot to the offense.

[Night Train]

So I googled Harty and watched his highlights on my phone from 2020 and 2021 this morning.. while waiting for the AARP taxman to give me the annual bad news.

He was still going by the name of Harris. Changed name to honor his step-father, who treated him and his mother well. A positive.

Returned kicks
Ran jet sweeps
Ran end arounds
Bubble screens
Slants from the slot
Go routes wide
Was open on most catches. CB's weren't close to him.

A far quicker Mckenzie, IMO. I also heard the WGR radio guys saying Bills have an easy out after 1 year. Whatever.

He's is short... probably an inch shorter than Beasley. CB's gave him a lot of cushion, fearing the deep speed.


He gets his shot for 2023. Welcome. Like Hines, find ways to get him on the field and use the speed. Up to Dorsey.

[mightysimi]

Heard on a podcast this morning about an interesting metric so take with a grain of salt.

For yards per route run, so showing when they are on the field how productive they were.

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown
2. Tyreek Hill
3. AJ Brown
4. Deonte Harty
5. Davonte Adams

Now obviously the others have had way more opportunity to do it but it does show he is productive on offence. Even as a little guy.

[Saratoga Slim]

Watching his highlights got me over the "meh" hump and into "OK let's see what this looks like with Josh Allen." I still see role player, but dude can move. Definitely adds a vertical threat we don't have. Hoepfully he can stay on the field.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvE2fzKteiA

[swiper]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Talked to a DC who faced Deonte Harty while he was at New Orleans in 2021 (pre injury). &quot;Explosive. Better receiver than he gets credit for. Not a one-trick pony on that front.&quot; I&#39;ve had a number of people confirm what <a href="https://twitter.com/nick_underhill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nick_underhill</a> told me, that Harty can run the full rte tree</p>&mdash; Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGiardi/status/1636422170480898049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[kgun12]

That **** has gotten old. The process can go fly a kite.

Yeah, I hate the term, I meant this sarcastically.

[YardRat]

Well good. What Josh really needed was another deep threat to chuck bombs at while all of the open guys underneath get ignored.

[Woodman]

That’s an expensive punt catcher right there!

Too bad we gave up on Hodgins…

It's a 6 catch limit he was over 7th so back he goes.

We carried him the first two years.

[Woodman]

Harty was not signed to be a prime returner. He muffs punts way too often for that.

Looking at his play on the field as a WR - he looks to have good hands, the ability to get separation, and (of course) deep speed.

If this guy can stay healthy he can add a lot to the offense.

Taking the top off ..... Josh should really enjoy this kid.

[Woodman]

That **** has gotten old. The process can go fly a kite.
If it's lucky. :snicker:

Screw the flippin process.

[Woodman]

Okay, so let me get this straight.

You want to take a return guy who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in one game, so as to put him in an offense that passes 85% of the time.

Then sign a 5'6 wide receiver to run one jetsweep every 2-3 games.

Gotcha.

This kid is gonna take the top off and open everything else up.

Go ahead single cover him at your own risk.

SPEED ****ING KILLS!

He's not here for gadget plays primarily JMO I'm also not saying that any won't occasionally take place.

Play to strengths his is nasty speed and hands.

[John Doe]

Well good. What Josh really needed was another deep threat to chuck bombs at while all of the open guys underneath get ignored.

Most of Harty's receptions have been short routes that he turns into YAC.

[Woodman]

Most of Harty's receptions have been short routes that he turns into YAC.
Definitely works for me. :cheers:

[Mr. Pink]

So we decided to keep Nyheim and then went out and signed another returner?

What part of the process is this besides idiocy.

We just signed Papa Smurf who's never had any kind of role in an NFL offense. There's apparently something wrong with his game besides his size because the entire league is enamored with speed which he has plenty of. Can he not get off the line with jams? Does he not run good routes? Does he have bad hands? Can he not find holes in a zone? Can he not take hits?

There is obviously something to his game that is negative that doesn't keep him on the field much.

[jamze132]

I’m not convinced we’ll tap into this kid’s talent because he’s not Josh. Our system seems to be Josh and…Josh. Dorsey needs to get a clue.

[YardRat]

Most of Harty's receptions have been short routes that he turns into YAC.

Not seeing it in his highlights, and even the stats from his most productive season don't back that up...the YAC/catch and YAC yards as a percentage of the total indicate most of his success comes from intermediate routes like shallow posts, flags, and deeper crossers. Harty's YAC percentage was actually lower than Beasley's in 2021.

[notacon]

The Negative Nancy’s are in full blown “the SKY is falling” mode, as usual.

I’m going to wait until we see Harty on the field in what kind of role he is going to play. On first glance he sure looks like a substantial upgrade from McKenzie.

Depending on what additional moves the Bills make in the RB room, (and there is no doubt they have to add probably two more bodies) and with the restructure of Hines (with a modest pay cut) it sure looks like he is poised to be used much more as a RB, especially with Singletary probably not coming back.

I suspect that there will be a modest (in terms of cap expense) FA RB signing for a guy that has some bulk with Beane saying that they would like to have a RB who is a “little heavier”. Singletary does not fit that mold. Neither does Cook or Hines.

There will be no surprise if the Bills start 2023 with....

James Cook
Hines
FA “heavier” RB
RB in the draft.

I’m encouraged by the signing of Harty. Can’t wait to see him on the field.