Packers Take A Flyer On Former Chiefs Wideout Mecole Hardman

The Green Bay Packers needed a speedy wideout to add to their receiver room.

On Tuesday night, the Packers took a flier on wideout/return man Mecole Hardman, who had the game-winning touchdown catch for the Kansas City Chiefs in LVIII.

Green Bay agreed to a one-year deal with Hardman, who spent the majority of his first six NFL seasons with Kansas City.

ESPN was first to report the signing.

Kansas City trailed San Francisco, 22-19, in overtime in the 58^th Super Bowl. Hardman then caught a 3-yard touchdown pass to give the Chiefs a 25-22 win.

“I’ve played with Mecole for a long time,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said that night. “He’s always ready for the moment, and he’s someone that continues to practice hard and get better.”

The Packers need to replace speedster Christian Watson, who suffered a torn right ACL in Week 18 last year and is expected to miss a large portion of the 2025 campaign.

Is Hardman the answer?

It’s doubtful, but the Packers could find a role for him.

The 5-foot-10, 187-pound Hardman was a second-round pick by the Chiefs in 2019. Hardman, who played collegiately at Georgia, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.

Hardman has 178 receptions for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns during his first six NFL seasons. Hardman’s best year as a wideout came in 2021, when he caught 59 passes for 693 yards and two touchdowns.

He’s also averaged 23.8 yards per kick return and 9.2 yards per punt return.

“We’ve had Mecole, we kind of know how he fits into our scheme, and he did a nice job with that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He came in, worked hard and was productive for us.”

Hardman was part of three Super Bowl winning teams in Kansas City. He was also named to the PFWA all-Rookie team in 2019 and earned a Pro Bowl berth as a returner that year.

Hardman signed with the New York Jets in free agency in March, 2023. But after Hardman lost his job that season, the Jets traded him back to Kansas City for a seventh round pick.

“Mecole, he’s one of my favorite teammates ever just because he keeps showing up,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said of Hardman. “When everybody counted him out, even the Jets counted him out, and we were so excited when he got back in the building because he’s the kind of guy that brings everybody together.”

Hardman played in 12 games for the Chiefs in 2024, but managed just 12 receptions for 90 yards (7.5). He finished the year on the injured reserve list with a knee injury.

Hardman joins a mediocre wide receiver group in Green Bay consisting of Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton and Malik Heath.