Chiefs should target Mecole Hardman clone on Day 2 of NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs may have won their second Super Bowl in four seasons, but that doesn’t mean this team is going to come out of the 2022 offseason without some holes that need to be filled. The departure of Mecole Hardman has only emphasized the team’s need to add more wide receiver depth.

Hardman, who spent the last four years in Kansas City as an ace kick returner and vertical threat, signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets to (presumably) team up with Aaron Rodgers.

The Chiefs have done a respectable job when it comes to restocking their receiver room. Even after losing Tyreek Hill, the additions of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and Skyy Moore helped the squad break through in the postseason. Brett Veach may need to go to the draft to find his Hardman replacement, however.

In terms of how much his skillset mirrors that of Hardman, Oklahoma combine star Marvin Mims makes a ton of sense for a Kansas City team that values speed as much as any team in the league. Hardman might be on to greener (no pun intended) pastures, but Mims could mimic his production and flair fairly well.

Chiefs draft: Marvin Mims could replace Mecole Hardman

Mims averaged over 20 yards per catch under both Lincoln Riley and Brett Venables, showing that his speed was not scheme-dependent. Even for a smaller receiver, Mims has performed well in contested catch opportunities when given a chance.

Not only will Mims bring the same breakaway speed that made Hardman such a valuable contributor, but he is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands. His ability to run after the catch is matched by very few in this class, which will make him ideal for Kansas City.

Mims, like Hardman, is not going to be a possession target at any point in his career and will likely have a limited role early in his career. In addition, the offense he is coming from could make for a tough transition to the pros. Not only will his speed be more manageable against professional athletes, but he ran a very limited route tree in an offense that isn’t always geared toward NFL success.

While losing Hardman will have a tangible impact on this offense, replacing him is not an impossible task. A player like Mims coming into the fold will not only give the Chiefs another YAC target, but it will make sure that defenses remain in complete paralysis at the thought of Patrick Mahomes winding up for another deep bomb.