Bills sign wide receiver, return specialist Deonte Harty

The Buffalo Bills announced today that they are signing former Saints wide receiver and punt returner Deonte Harty to a 2-year, $9.5 million deal. 

Harty, formerly known as Deonte Harris, is a four-year veteran who has played his entire career with the Saints. He received Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors his rookie season in 2019 after leading the league in in punt returns and punt return yards.

Harty has experience in the slot and as a true wide out. The signing might spell the end of Bills gadget/slot receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who was underwhelming in the slot role in 2022. It also alludes to the fact that running back Nyheim Hynes will probably have a bigger role in the Bills offense in 2023, possibly relieving him of his return duties.

Harty, an undrafted free agent out of Assumption College in 2019, was suspended three games in 2021 due to a DUI conviction and missed a majority of the 2022 season with a turf toe injury. But, when healthy, Harty is one the more explosive wide receivers, specializing in the deep ball and yards after the catch.

Since 2020, Harty has the fourth most yards per route run among wide receivers:

In 40 career games, Harty has 64 receptions for 793 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also has 15 career rushes for 123 yards. Here is how his contract is broken down: