The Kansas City Chiefs have decided to bring back a familiar face to the active roster while bolstering some obvious needs at the wide receiver. Per NFL reporter Adam Schefter, veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman is returning to K.C. in a deal before the NFL's trade deadline.
Hardman has been mentioned as a potential acquisition for the Chiefs for some time given his status as a healthy scratch and odd man out for the Jets since the season began.
According to Albert Breer, the Chiefs have traded a seventh-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft in exchange for Hardman and a 7th round selection in the same draft class.
The Chiefs and Jets are working out a low-level trade to bring back Mecole Hardman for another season.
The Jets signed Hardman in the offseason to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million guaranteed and up to $5.5M in incentives. However, somewhere between the spring and fall, the Jets soured on their acquisition and left him as an inactive player most weeks. In four games played so far this season, Hardman had 1 catch for 6 yards—hardly what the team envisioned when signing him in the first place.
For the Chiefs, Hardman returns as a player who is already well-versed in the playbook and the locker room, so his impact could be immediate, depending on what he's tasked with. In the present, Justin Watson is injured, so Hardman could be used on deep routes in that way, but the Chiefs have also watched Hardman perform well as a versatile weapon on offense and in the return game.
Hardman's presence bolsters a young, inexperienced wide receiver room while providing some security in the face of injury or inconsistency.
The Chiefs originally drafted Mecole Hardman in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft at No. 56 overall out of the University of Georgia. From there, he would go on to catch 151 passes over the next four seasons for 2,088 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed 20 times for 125 yards and another 2 scores. As a returner, he's scored a single touchdown both as a kick returner and punt returner.
Hardman, who is only 25 years old, was named a Pro Bowler in 2019.
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