Packers cut three-time Super Bowl champion WR Mecole Hardman in surprise move

The Green Bay Packers have made a bit of a surprise move, deciding to release wide receiver Mecole Hardman, per FOX’s Jordan Schultz. The three-time Super Bowl champion signed with the franchise this past offseason, inking a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

Hardman played in just 12 games last season, not making too big of a contribution with the Kansas City Chiefs. On 14 targets, 12 of them resulted in catches for 90 yards. There was some efficiency in those receptions, with half of them resulting in first downs for his team.

It wasn’t all for naught though, as Kansas City did use Hardman on special teams at times. However, the final five games of the regular season saw Hardman watching from the sideline. He did not record a playoff appearance as the Chiefs made another run to the Super Bowl, before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Still, he’ll forever be remember fondly in Kansas City, after famously making the game-winning catch to win Super Bowl LVIII in overtime. He was hoping for a bigger role to be carved out for him in Green Bay, but it looks like his time with the Packers has come and gone with a whimper.

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Mecole Hardman isn’t the only highly-touted addition leaving the Packers on Tuesday. The team also cut linebacker Isaiah Simmons ahead of Tuesday’s 53-man roster deadline, per CBS Sports‘ Matt Zenitz.

Simmons signed with Green Bay this offseason after spending the last two seasons with the New York Giants. He immediately becomes a gem on the free agency market for a team looking for depth heading into the season.

Moreover, Simmons was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals out of Clemson. Over five NFL seasons (84 games), Simmons boasts 329 tackles, 15 TFL, 8.5 sacks and five interceptions. 

In three preseason games, Simmons recorded 21 tackles. He led Green Bay in tackles in both of their final two preseason games.

Simmons was a four-star recruit coming out of Olate North (Olathe, KS) in the Class of 2016, where he was tabbed the No.340-ranked player in the country. He committed to Clemson, where he’d play from 2016-2019.

As a Tiger, he recorded 238 tackles, 28.5 TFL, 11 sacks and four interceptions in 44 career games. He was given the Butkus Award in 2019, along with being named a Unanimous All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

— On3’s Griffin McVeigh and Daniel Hager contributed to this article.