As the captains take the field in Oakland on Sunday, Chiefs rookie wide receiver Mecole Hardman will most likely make his first NFL start. Hardman replaced Tyreek Hill in the lineup in Week 1 at Jacksonville after Hill suffered a first quarter injury that will likely keep him out of the lineup until the end of October.
Despite his status as a second-round draft pick, there might not be another rookie who is better equipped than Hardman to replace an All Pro in the lineup. The path to the starting lineup has been a unique one for the 5’10” 190-pound receiver from Georgia.
As the sun began to set on the opening night of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs were dealt some shocking news. An audio recording was made public in the hours before the draft, and it seemed to condemn Hill. The AFC runners-up appeared to have an All-Pro-sized hole at a vital skill position.
In hindsight, it seemed obvious that the team adjusted their draft plans on the fly, as Veach gave up a fifth-round pick in order to move up five slots in the second round to select Hardman 56th overall. Veach would later say that the Chiefs did not base their draft choice on the Hill audio. But for national pundits and Chiefs Kingdom, the rapid-fire deduction was clear: Hardman was a perfect fit to try to replicate Hill’s mold as a vertical burner and return specialist.
One common complaint among Chiefs fans and media was that a trade up to acquire Hardman seemed unnecessary. Many reasoned that Veach could have saved that fifth-rounder and taken his chances at pick #61, with other more heralded receivers like D.K. Metcalf, Parris Campbell, and Hakeem Butler still on the board when K.C. selected Hardman. It felt like a desperation move to try to replace an irreplaceable talent.
However, much like the selection of Patrick Mahomes in 2017, you have to respect the fact that Chiefs brass didn’t move up to draft “a guy” to fill a need. They drafted “their guy.” Remember, Kansas City made the move to acquire Mahomes while Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was still on the board. Clearly, Veach and Andy Reid had done their homework and had their sights set on Hardman. Yes, the team passed on athletic giants like the 6’3″ Metcalf and the 6’5″ Butler. Yes, they passed on Campbell, who caught more passes (90) in his senior season at Ohio State than Hardman accumulated in his entire career at Georgia (60).
What caught their eye? Why Hardman over bigger receivers with a higher pedigree?