Mecole Hardman makes most of every opportunity with Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Mecole Hardman has made his presence felt on a team already loaded with pass catchers and playmakers.

When general manager Brett Veach used his first overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft on Mecole Hardman, another wide receiver and playmaker for the Kansas City Chiefs, the addition was a bit confusing. On the surface, the Chiefs were already loaded at the skill positions. Meanwhile, other areas described bleeding wounds that required attention. Veach didn’t care. He had his man and even traded up a handful of spots to get him.

With his rookie season nearly complete, Veach deserves a pat on the back for his vision to add Hardman’s skill set to the offense. Despite the presence of All-Pros at tight end (Travis Kelce) and wide receiver (Tyreek Hill) along with a host of other talented receivers (Sammy Watkins, DeMarcus Robinson), Hardman has made his presence felt

Hardman has 24 catches on the season for the Kansas City Chiefs, but he’s also made 498 receiving yards, 17 first downs, and 6 touchdowns from those limited catches. He’s faster than everybody not nicknamed “Cheetah” and makes it impossible for defenses to fully account for the team’s array of pass catchers. If Mahomes has time, there’s no denying the opportunities for someone in this offense to make a big play.

It didn’t take long for Chiefs fans to notice Hardman as an important new addition. With Tyreek Hill out for the first few weeks of the season due to a clavicle injury, Hardman stepped right in. In Week 2, he caught a 42 pass down the middle on a 3rd-and-20 scenario to put the Chiefs up over the Raiders. The Chiefs would go on to dominate that same second quarter and put Oakland away early.

The very next week, Hardman came up big on an 83-yard touchdown that put the dagger in the Baltimore Ravens, the very team the entire AFC is chasing at this point.

Most recently, Hardman was the one who helped get the offense moving against the New England Patriots in the Chiefs’ most anticipated matchup of the season. Early in the second quarter, the Chiefs took the lead (and never looked back) on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs when Hardman scored on a 48-yard touchdown throw. Hardman not only ran a nice route, but adjusted to an underthrown ball from Patrick Mahomes, only to then completely outrun every Pats defender to the end zone. It would have been impressive for Hardman to simply catch this ball, but the touchdown shows the very skill set and instincts that made Veach reach up to grab him.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was recently asked about Hardman’s body of work and the limited chances he receives. He responded that it’s a matter of overall talent with so many targets to feed. But he was also quick to praise the Chiefs rookie.

“We have talent,” said Bieniemy to reporters earlier this week. “This is not a knock on Mecole Hardman. We just have guys who can all make plays, and I think the best thing that has happened to him is that these guys have accepted him as one of them. So they’re raising him and grooming him.

“Now, don’t get me wrong. Mecole has stepped up. He’s making the most of every opportunity that is being presented to him. But also, too, he appreciates those opportunities because of the players that he’s with. He understands the value of making it happen when being given that chance to excel on the field.”

Hardman is doing exactly that—making the most of every opportunity. This offseason, the Chiefs have a big decision to make about paying Sammy Watkins more than any other receiver in the NFL (once again). They also have Demarcus Robinson reaching unrestricted free agency. In short, a once-crowded room is now not so crowded and Hardman’s presence will be felt on a greater level going forward, assuming the Chiefs let one or more players walk.

At the rate he’s been able to make plays during his impressive rookie campaign, it will be interesting to see just how dominant Hardman can be moving forward.