It isn't quite the big splash many are hoping for, but Mecole Hardman brings an important element to the Packers: Speed.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers are adding a three-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver to their roster.
Mecole Hardman, a former second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, is being signed to a one-year deal, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Coming off of a year plagued with drops and facing the grim reality that Christian Watson will miss a chunk of next season as well with a torn ACL, the expectation was that the Packers would make more of a concerted effort to add to their current room of receivers. Instead, they watched Davante Adams—a former second-round pick of their own—sign with the Los Angeles Rams, Cooper Kupp with the Seattle Seahawks and DK Metcalf get traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after it was rumored that he had drawn interest from the Packers.
General manager Brian Gutekunst isn't naive—he knows the trials and tribulations that the team's young wideouts have and will continue to endure. However, the Packers may have found it fruitful to outsource for a veteran acquisition that can help stabilize the position. Hardman, albeit experienced, hasn't ever been the No. 1 receiver that many had hoped he would become.
What he has done, though, is establish himself as an electrifying return man and a speedy asset that could help temporarily replace what Watson brings to the table. Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks all struggled against man coverage last season—in fact, opposing teams preyed on the Packers' inability to field efficient man-beaters, helping expedite their demise toward the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.
Mecole Hardman scores on a 30-yard touchdown reception against the Packers on Oct. 27, 2019.
Hardman, 27, could be a fun gadget for head coach Matt LaFleur to tinker with. While he could contribute on offense, it's likely that Hardman is going to enter contention to become the primary return man and supplant Keisean Nixon. It's believed that both Nixon and the Packers don't want him returning kicks anymore as he transitions into more of a full-time role on defense.
For his career, Hardman has returned 45 kickoffs and averages 23.8 yards per return. He brought one all the way back for a touchdown as a rookie, but hasn't found the end zone since. His last punt return for a touchdown was in 2020, but he's still returned 89 punts and averaged just north of nine yards per return. Hardman's dynamic rookie season earned him the accolades to support his savvy as a returner, earning Second-team All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl selection and he was named to the Pro Football Writers of America's All-Rookie Team.
59 receptions is the most Hardman has ever had in a season, but that would've led the Packers in 2024. His 693 receiving yards is also a personal single-season high and that would've been third on the Packers last season. Both of those milestones were set in 2021 and Hardman hasn't come close to eclipsing similar production since. In the last four seasons, Hardman's caught just 67 passes for 635 yards and four touchdowns with all four of those scores coming in 2022.
After playing out the duration of his rookie contract with the Chiefs, Hardman signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets, but played in just five games. Hardman fell out of favor in New York; he was stuck behind Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb on the depth chart. Lazard and Cobb were both brought aboard by Aaron Rodgers, who sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in the first game of the year.
Hardman was essentially a non-factor, and after requesting to be traded, he was shipped back to Kansas City where he would wind up catching the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVIII.
The Packers have now signed three free agents since the start of the legal tampering period last week. Aaron Banks, who has been the starting left guard for the San Francisco 49ers for the past three seasons, signed a four-year deal with the Packers worth $77 million dollars. They also signed Nate Hobbs from the Las Vegas Raiders, inking him to a four-year deal worth $48 million dollars.
Zachary Jacobson is the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is entering his 11th season covering theGreen Bay Packers. He is a member of thePro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter@zacobson or contact him via email atitszachariahj@gmail.com