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Eight KC Chiefs players poised to improve in 2021

By Farzin Vousoughian

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 25: Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown with teammates Byron Pringle #13, Daniel Kilgore #67, and Demarcus Robinson #11 during a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 25, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 25: Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown with teammates Byron Pringle #13, Daniel Kilgore #67, and Demarcus Robinson #11 during a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 25, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 13: Mecole Hardman #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 13: Mecole Hardman #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Mecole Hardman, WR

Mecole Hardman received a lot of hype after he was drafted by the Chiefs in 2019. Hardman was even compared to Hill as some fans were thrilled with Hardman’s potential in this offense.

Hardman was very impressive in 2019 in the limited offensive snaps he played, 471 snaps to be exact. He pulled in 26 catches for 538 yards. However, Hardman regressed in 2020 with 41 catches for 560 yards. Hardman averaged 20.7 yards per catch as a rookie in 2019. That average dropped to 13.7 this past year. Despite catching more passes in 2020, Hardman caught two fewer receiving touchdowns this past season, finishing with four.

Hardman was criticized early in the AFC Championship game when he fumbled a punt return, allowing the Buffalo Bills offense to return to the field and restart their drive at the three-yard line and scoring a touchdown on the next play. Hardman quickly made up for his error by scoring a touchdown on the next drive of the game. In the following drive, Hardman took a handoff off of a reverse and ran 50 yards to bring the Chiefs closer to the end zone and eventually scored to take the lead.

With the speed he possesses, there is no doubt that Hardman could be a big playmaker for the Chiefs. We have seen him make big plays as a receiver, rusher and return specialist.

With Sammy Watkins moving on to Baltimore, Hardman will see more action. If he can return to his 2019 form with more snaps involved, Kansas City’s offense will be more dangerous, in addition to already having Hill and Kelce.

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