N’Keal Harry won’t be the fastest, quickest or tallest receiver to come out of the 2019 NFL Draft. But that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the New England Patriots. None of those are his main strength.

In summing up his game, Harry didn’t talk about speed, or strength, or agility, or route running -- much less 40 times and bench press reps. Instead, Harry used a word that didn’t show up on his scouting combine workout: passionate.

“I would describe my game as very passionate. I play with a lot of passion," Harry said. “Whenever that ball’s in the air, I’ll sacrifice anything to go get it, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win.”

Physically, Harry fits the mold of an NFL receiver, weighing in at 6-foot-2, 228 pounds, but wasn’t considered an elite athlete at the position. In particular, his downfield speed has come up as a concern.

Harry, who ran a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, has decent speed for an NFL decent -- but not elite. In college, that wasn’t much of an issue as the Arizona State receiver tore up the Pac-12 during his three college seasons.

Harry’s strength as a receiver isn’t burning defenders. It’s overpowering and out-positioning receivers with his power and route running skills. That and his intense work ethic and willingness to do whatever coaches ask of him.

“Anything coach wants me to do, whether it’s on special teams, offense, anything, I’ll do it,” Harry said. "Just to do my part and to be one piece of the puzzle and helping us win.”

During his final season at Arizona State, Harry played under first-year Sun Devil coach Herm Edwards, a long-time NFL coach. Harry said that Edwards’ advice was instrumental in shaping his work ethic and approach to the game to the point where it became a factor in why the Patriots chose him.

“He was just telling me that I just had to always be ready, I had to take everything to a whole new level – the way I study, the way I do everything,” Harry said. “It’s obviously a new level, and I have to prove myself all over again.”

That perspective on how to approach the NFL turned out of be pretty spot on in predicting what the Patriots hope to see out of their players.

Shortly after the his drafted Harry, Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio was asked what the first-round pick needs to do to find success in New England.

The answer didn’t focus on physical traits. It was about passion and work ethic.

“Show up, work hard, take coaching and just try to improve each day. Honestly, that’s a formula for every player," Caserio said. “If you do that – I mean, it’s not that hard. It seems pretty simple but it’s not that hard. But, if you do those things ... you’re probably going to become a decent player. If you don’t do those things, it’s probably not going to go too well for you.”