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#Miami WR Mike Harley Jr. enters the 2022 #NFLDraft as the program's all-time receprions leader, an astounding accomplishment. He was excellent at the @Hula_Bowl where he met w/ 25+ teams & had especially productive & long meetings with the #Saints, #Broncos, #Chiefs and #Vikings
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) February 16, 2022
Here’s one 2022 NFL draft prospect already on the New Orleans Saints’ radar: Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Mike Harley Jr. The Draft Network’s Justin Melo reports that Harley met with more than 25 teams at the Hula Bowl all-star game, counting the Saints among a handful of meetings which he described as lengthy and “especially productive.”
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, Harley appeared in 52 games over five years and shattered a 20-year school record for career receptions (182) that was set by former Indianapolis Colts star and New Orleans native Reggie Wayne (175). He profiles as more of a possession receiver rather than a big-play threat, though, ranking seventh in career receiving yards (2,158) and ninth in touchdown receptions (15). His 11.9 yards per catch average is the lowest of all Hurricanes with 120 or more career receptions. He also didn’t get many looks in the return game, fielding 3 punts for 15 yards and 12 kicks for 244 yards.
Still, he could be a good get for the Saints. New Orleans badly needs help at wide receiver, with Michael Thomas still recovering from ankle surgery while Marquez Callaway looks to build on a solid second season. A couple of starters are pending free agents in Deonte Harty (restricted) and Tre’Quan Smith (unrestricted), as well as backups like Kenny Stills, Ty Montgomery, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey (restricted).
The other five receivers under contract for 2022 — Kevin White, Easop Winston Jr., Kawaan Baker, Kirk Merritt, and Jalen McCleskey — combined for just two catches last season. Some new additions and significant changes are going to be necessary.
As for Harley: he was not invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, so he’ll have to wait and go through athletic timing and measurements at Miami’s pro day in the weeks ahead. He’s currently projected to be picked on the third day of the draft or be signed as a priority free agent after the event, but clearly plenty of teams are taking a look at him.
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