The Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver room has the potential to see some serious changes during the offseason, with free agents and cap casualties alike coming into play.
Mecole Hardman falls into the former group. In just a couple of short weeks, the former second-round pick by Kansas City back in 2019 is set to go through free agency for the second time. A year ago, he signed with the New York Jets but ultimately ended up back with the Chiefs following an in-season trade. After an up-and-down second stint with his original team, now he'll hit the open market again.
Is a return to the Chiefs imminent? Hardman recently spoke to Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network about that possibility but came off as someone who's in wait-and-see mode.
"Right now, you just hear them talk and see what's going on [and] what people's ideas [are]," Hardman said. "And then you probably get a better idea as the week goes on. When the free agency starts, you'll know. So we'll just see if they want me back. If not, it might be somewhere else. We'll see."
Hardman's perspective here makes a ton of sense. For starters, the 25-year-old now has an idea of what the free agency process is like. Exit meetings after the season don't always necessarily provide a firm indication of whether a new deal will eventually get struck. Hardman leaving the door open for a Chiefs return is undoubtedly positive.
There's a very clear pro- and anti-Hardman case for a re-sign situation. On one hand, he has experience in head coach Andy Reid's system and has worked with quarterback Patrick Mahomes for nearly five full seasons. He also has a good bank of knowledge to draw from in the postseason and is capable of playing special teams. That, combined with some great speed that serves as a trump card, makes it pretty easy to see why a return wouldn't hurt. If Hardman came back on another cheap one-year deal as wideout No. 4, 5 or 6, there's a case to be made that Kansas City would be better for it.
On the other hand, Hardman's game-winning touchdown grab in Super Bowl LVIII shouldn't inflate what he brings to the table. He had multiple fumbles during this year's playoff run and has too many instances where he struggles to track the football or doesn't finish off a route. He and Mahomes aren't always on the same page, either. There's also the durability question. In 2022-23, Hardman missed double-digit games due to injury and that number was five with the Chiefs this past season.
If the price is right, the Chiefs would be wise to at least entertain the idea of Hardman coming back for another season. His skill set fits in the offense and receiver room, and the possibility of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney not being with the team in 2024-25 could open up a couple of spots. The core starts with Rashee Rice, and Hardman would hypothetically be a depth piece alongside the likes of Justin Watson and Skyy Moore. Will that be the outcome? We may get a better indication when the new league year begins on March 13.
More must-reads: