Admin April 17, 2024
Former Bills And Patriots Star Damien Harris Retires At 27
Damien Harris recently announced that he has retired from the NFL at the age of 27.
The running back was a third-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2019 NFL Draft, where he spent four years.
He then signed a one-year contract worth $1.7 million with the Bills in March 2023, but injuries hampered his stint in Buffalo.
Harris racked up 23 carries for 94 yards, a touchdown and a reception of 16 yards before he was sidelined for the Bills.
“For the past 20 years, playing the game of football has been one of the greatest privileges in my life. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve been, the experiences and memories I’ve made, the impact I’ve been able to make to this point; these are the things that mean the most to me,” said Harris.
He added that “being coached by the two greatest head coaches of all time, Nick Saban and Bill Belichick,” was a blessing.
“Getting to represent the name on the back of my jersey on and off the field, getting to compete at the highest level with and against the best competitors while winning championships, is just a small part of what God has done in my life with the game of football,” Harris said.
He concluded his farewell message by saying, “I am grateful I have found the strength to walk away from the game I love so much.”
unbranded – Sport
All signs are pointing toward the New England Patriots taking a quarterback with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft next week. The only question that remains: which one it will be?
Ahead of the Patriots in the draft order are two other teams in need of a quarterback – the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. Chicago is a near-lock to select Southern California product Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. The Commanders will likely take either North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the second pick.
In that scenario, New England would have to decide between the quarterback of the “top three” that remains or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, a prospect that has skyrocketed up draft boards in the pre-draft process.
Here’s what analysts are predicting for the Patriots’ No. 3 pick in the latest mocks of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Full 2024 NFL mock draft: All 32 picks from Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz’s latest mock
2024 NFL Draft: Patriots prediction
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Middlehurst-Schwartz writes, “Might the Patriots’ potential decision between McCarthy – who is being hosted by New England on Monday, according to multiple reports – and Drake Maye be the inflection point of the entire first round? New coach Jerod Mayo has raved about the latter signal-caller, but McCarthy’s continued ascent – both as a player and prospect – could take him all the way to the top three.”
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Brugler writes, “Listening to trade offers is the responsible move for de facto general manager Eliot Wolf. But it is tough to imagine the Patriots passing on a quarterback here, especially if Maye makes it to No. 3.”
Anonymous NFC South area scout, ESPN: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The scout said, “The other guys really left me without a choice, but this is who we wanted outside of Caleb [Williams] anyway… We’re sprinting to the podium with this pick. He’s a true playmaker and can beat you with his arm and his legs.”
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Brinson writes, “The whole ‘draft a QB out of Michigan’ thing worked well once for the Patriots, why not give it a run this time again.”
Peter Schrager, NFL Network: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Schrager writes, “Despite lots of smoke that New England could trade down, I believe this new Patriots regime will be comfortable with either Jayden Daniels or Maye. Pats brass took Maye out for steaks the night before his Foxborough visit earlier this month, and those guys loved the Charlotte native.”
2024 NFL draft: Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr. among 13 prospects to attend
2024 NFL Draft: How to watch on cable TV and streaming
When: April 25-27, 2024
Where: Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan
Cable: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
Streaming: NFL+; ESPN+; Hulu+ Live TV; fuboTV
How to watch: Catch all seven rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft with a subscription to fuboTV
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.