Mecole Hardman

Chiefs Rumors: Reid, Veach, Mahomes, Smith, Hopkins, Smith-Schuster, Hardman

November 14th, 2024 at 7:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Establishing himself as one of the NFL’s all-time great head coaches during his time in Kansas City, Andy Reid has also operated as the Chiefs’ lead decision-maker. The 12th-year Chiefs HC retains final say on the team’s roster, though he has ceded some power in recent years.

Reid worked with longtime Packers exec John Dorsey during the first four seasons of his Chiefs run but effectively orchestrated a switch in 2017, with Dorsey being fired and ex-Eagles staffer Brett Veach promoted to the GM role. Veach has been at the helm for all three Chiefs Super Bowl wins during the Patrick Mahomes era, and while Dorsey was at the wheel for the trade-up that secured the QB icon (after drafting future Hall of Famers Travis Kelce and Chris Jones as well), Veach was credited with identifying the Texas Tech prospect as a hopeful Alex Smith successor.

In recent years, Reid is believed to have given Veach more say in roster matters, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Not all GM positions are created equal. All answer to owners (or team presidents, in the Packers’ case), while higher-ranking front office types have stood over GMs in the recent past. Some teams still have head coaches installed as their top decision-makers, though this is not the norm anymore. The Patriots and Seahawks ditched their HC-first models this offseason, respectively firing Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll. The Chiefs have been the NFL’s premier team during Mahomes’ QB1 run and obviously have no reason to change their Reid-centered approach.

Veach did pitch the idea of Mahomes’ 10-year extension to CEO Clark Hunt following the 2019 season, Fowler adds; that deal quickly became a team-friendly pact, with the QB market now at $60MM per year. Mahomes is still tied to the $45MM-AAV accord, and while the Chiefs moved money around to help cover the rising market in 2023, they still have the NFL’s most accomplished active QB signed through 2031. The club has used this as a tool to create cap space annually, completing three restructures to inflate Mahomes’ cap figures down the line.

It is true the Chiefs have used Dorsey-drafted cogs as pillars while Veach’s supporting cast has filled in around the Canton-bound mainstays, but the likes of Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Nick Bolton and Trent McDuffie have become standouts after being Veach draftees. Veach’s early drafts did not move the needle too far, but his 2021 and ’22 hauls helped form a low-cost core to help support the contracts given to Mahomes, Jones and left guard Joe Thuney. The two-time defending champs will soon face decisions on two members of their standout 2021 class.

Kansas City already paid Humphrey, giving their standout center a deal that topped the center market by a notable margin. Coupled with Jawaan Taylor‘s $20MM-per-year contract already featuring a fully guaranteed 2025 salary, Smith is moving closer to free agency. The Chiefs are still interested in paying Smith, but a re-up for their right guard will be costlier than Humphrey’s, as a fairly wide gap exists between the guard and center markets. Rumblings around the league point to the former sixth-round pick becoming the NFL’s highest-paid guard if he reaches the market, and Fowler adds.

Landon Dickerson‘s $21.5MM-per-year Eagles extension currently tops the guard market, but Smith has been a key part of the Chiefs’ dynasty, having established himself as a Day 1 starter while grading out well in ESPN’s win rate metrics and seeing high Pro Football Focus marks. This has not produced a Pro Bowl yet, but Robert Hunt recently proved no such honors are necessary to fetch a $20MM-per-year guard deal. Smith’s lack of recognition may well change this season, which would further bolster his FA stock.

This year’s round of free agency guard paydays will make Smith tough to keep off the market. Guards are rarely franchise-tagged, due to the tag formula grouping all O-linemen together and thus raising interior blockers’ tender numbers, but the Chiefs could conceivably carve out enough space to cuff Smith with a tag that could cost around $25MM in 2025. The Chiefs are projected to hold just $20MM in cap space, with Bolton unsigned as well. Bolton will not cost as much as Smith to retain, and Kansas City has been more willing to let key defenders walk than cornerstone offensive talent during this run. The Chiefs have expressed interest extending Bolton as well, but the off-ball LB remains on his second-round deal.

Kansas City has allowed defensive regulars to walk frequently during this period, parting ways with the likes of Tyrann Mathieu, Frank Clark, Willie Gay, Juan Thornhill and just about every cornerback to come through under DC Steve Spagnuolo. Bolton has played more than 85% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps in each of the past three seasons, however. That will create a decision soon. The tag formula also groups on- and off-ball linebackers together. While guard tags have occurred in the recent past (via the Patriots and Thuney and Washington with Brandon Scherff), off-ball LBs are never tagged.

Some in the agent community have not been too fond of the Chiefs for using Mahomes’ team-friendly contract as a talking point during negotiations. It is true Mahomes took less; ditto Kelce. That allowed the Chiefs to give Jones a wildly player-friendly extension this offseason. Agents have pointed to some players being irked by the Chiefs using Mahomes’ contract against them in negotiations. Mahomes and Kelce also have considerable income streams outside of their Chiefs contracts — something most of the team’s other players do not. That certainly impacts a willingness to take hometown discounts.

After clinging to a shaky wide receiver plan last season, the Chiefs indeed poured more resources into their offense this offseason by signing Marquise Brown and drafting Xavier Worthy in the first round. Their plan changed again thanks to the major injuries Brown and Rashee Rice sustained. The Chiefs retained Mecole Hardman, who said (via ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher) he received some outside interest but did not seriously consider leaving Missouri again. Kansas City also re-signed JuJu Smith-Schuster following his Patriots release, turning to their top 2022 wideout in a key role prior to acquiring DeAndre Hopkins.

Prior to obtaining Hopkins from the Titans, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Veach’s staff approached Reid’s asking whether Hopkins and Smith-Schuster could play together. Week 11 is expected to be the first time Hopkins and Smith-Schuster will suit up together. That marked a key component in moving the Tennessee trade past the goal line, with that deal also illustrating the increased power Veach has assumed since his 2017 promotion.

Veach and Reid secured offseason extensions, with the three Super Bowl wins and four appearances placing the two in commanding position. Veach’s salary within the GM ranks is not known, but Fowler adds Reid is now the NFL’s highest-paid HC at around $20MM per year. Two coaches in Reid’s own division (Jim Harbaugh, Sean Payton) ranking in the top five in coaching salaries undoubtedly helped the Kansas City maestro, with Fowler noting the Chiefs’ latest Reid extension came after two years remained on his previous deal.

Reid’s previous contract had ranked near the bottom of the top 10 among HC salaries. Unlike player deals, teams do not have to disclose these terms. But the Chiefs took care of the architect of their ascent to the league’s mountaintop. Reid, 66, has been linked to retirement for a few years. But the ex-Eagles leader has continued to assure he is not yet strongly considering an exit. Matt Nagy is seen as a potential heir apparent, but the two-time Chiefs OC is also on track to receive outside interest in 2025. That will be an interesting storyline to monitor.

For now, however, the Chiefs’ Reid- and Mahomes-powered machine is still going. Although this year’s squad has offered a high-floor/low-ceiling presentation — thanks to a plus-57 point differential that ranks just ninth in the NFL — the team will chase its 16th consecutive win Sunday against the 8-2 Bills.

Chiefs To Re-Sign WR Mecole Hardman

June 6th, 2024 at 9:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Mecole Hardman‘s second Chiefs stint is set to continue. The veteran wideout has a new deal in place with the defending champions, per veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero adds this will be a one-year deal. Following a lengthy stay on the open market, Hardman will avoid the opportunity to join a new team like he did last offseason. He re-joined the Chiefs in 2023 following a short-lived Jets tenure, and the relationship between team and player will now continue for at least one more year.

Hardman signed a one-year, $4MM deal with the Jets after his K.C. rookie contract expired. He was positioned to operate as one of many new faces on the team’s offense, but that unit struggled all season following Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear. The 26-year-old asked to be sent back to the Chiefs, and New York obliged in October. That move set up limited production down the stretch and into the postseason (although Hardman’s lone touchdown was of course the overtime winner in Super Bowl LVIII).

Wide receiver was known to be a position of need for the Chiefs this offseason, and the team added Marquise Brown on a one-year pact. That was followed by the addition of another speedster (Xavier Worthy) in the first round of the draft. Both players could be in line for notable roles in 2024 particularly if Rashee Rice is handed a suspension to begin the campaign.

Following the draft, Kansas City made it clear no major outside additions were being contemplated, including a re-up with Hardman. The former second-rounder has nevertheless found himself back in the fold as he tries to carve out an offensive role. His best season came in 2021 (59 catches, 693 yards) and he scored at least four touchdowns during three of his four full Chiefs campaigns. Hardman could also earn playing time by reprising his role as the team’s primary returner.

Kansas City entered Thursday with over $17MM in cap space, so the team will easily be able to afford what will no doubt be a low-cost Hardman signing. The Georgia product could help his 2025 market value (either for another Chiefs pact or one from an outside team) with a strong campaign. The veteran receiver market, meanwhile, has become thinner ahead of training camp.

Jets Notes: Wilson, OL, Odunze, Hardman

May 5th, 2024 at 10:06pm CST by Rory Parks

The Jets brought an end to Zach Wilson‘s disappointing New York tenure when they traded their former No. 2 overall selection for a mere pick swap on Day 3 of last month’s draft. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Wilson’s camp was, in the run-up to the 2021 draft, deeply worried about Gang Green’s history of failure to develop young quarterbacks and how that would impact Wilson’s own career, but the BYU product was convinced he would be the player to buck that trend.

Of course, that was not the case, and Wilson will now try to resurrect his career in Denver. Per Cimini, one of the lessons that the Jets learned from the Wilson experience is that, regardless of the round in which they draft a QB in the future, they will want to give that player legitimate competition for his role and, preferably, the opportunity to learn on the sidelines (benefits that were not afforded to Wilson).

GM Joe Douglas also said prior to the 2024 draft that, “I’d love to be a quarterback factory,” referencing the 1990s Packers that selected QBs in the later rounds of a draft, developed them, and flipped them for new draft capital down the road. To that end, the Jets selected Florida State passer Jordan Travis in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. Travis sustained an ankle injury in November that prematurely ended his final collegiate season, though he is expected to be healed by the start of training camp.

Travis will be learning behind newly-signed backup Tyrod Taylor and QB1 Aaron Rodgers, whose success will drive the Jets’ fortunes in 2024. Blocking for that group of passers will be rookie OT Olu Fashanu, whom New York selected with the No. 11 overall pick of the draft. As Cimini details in a separate piece, Fashanu is not expected to start right away thanks to the recent additions of Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, but since both veterans will be on modified offseason programs, Fashanu will get plenty of reps at both left and right tackle during the spring and summer (Douglas suggested that Fashanu could even get looks on the interior, as Cimini relays).

The Jets did have the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, but they traded down one spot and selected Fashanu once Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze went off the board to the Bears, who held the No. 9 selection. That suggests that Odunze was New York’s preferred target, and though Douglas would not confirm as much, Cimini says that the Jets did try to trade up for the former Huskies pass catcher.

The club did eventually land a receiver when it nabbed Western Kentucky talent Malachi Corley in the third round. As Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network writes, some teams viewed Corley as a slot-only option, though the Jets plan to get him some reps outside the numbers as well. The club is clearly high on his ability, with Cimini reporting that Douglas started making calls about a possible trade-up to take Corley when the Packers were on the clock with the No. 45 selection. Ultimately, Douglas got his man with the No. 65 pick. Head coach Robert Saleh concedes that Corley will need to refine his route-running, but he is excited to find creative ways to use him (via Cimini).

Speaking of wide receivers, the Jets never levied tampering charges against the Chiefs for Kansas City’s pursuit of Mecole Hardman, as Cimini reported back in March. Hardman, a second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2019, signed with the Jets in the 2023 offseason. But after Rodgers was lost for the season four snaps into the 2023 opener, the Jets’ offense was in shambles, and Hardman later acknowledged during an appearance on Ryan Clark‘s The Pivot podcast that he begged Chiefs brass to “come get me” (via Cimini).

The Jets traded Hardman back to KC in October, and Douglas admitted that Hardman’s comments to Clark “resonated with us” (meaning, presumably, that the Jets may have considered tampering charges at some point).

Chiefs Not Pursuing Post-Draft Free Agent Additions

May 2nd, 2024 at 9:39am CST by Adam La Rose

The period immediately following the draft often entails a number of veterans finding new homes. The Chiefs are positioned to make at least one notable addition with respect to a free agent still on the market, but that should not be expected at this time.

“We accomplished a lot between the free agency period and the draft,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said when speaking to reporters (via Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star). “And now I think we’ll have a chance to really evaluate these young guys, and evaluate these new players we brought in on our 90-man signings right after the season and with the undrafted free agent guys we got. So we’ll have a chance to evaluate this team.”

Entering the draft, receiver and offensive tackle were widely seen as the team’s most pressing roster needs. Moving up the board on both occasions, the Chiefs landed wideout Xavier Worthy on Day 1 then tackle Kingsley Suamataia in the second round of the draft. Both players figure to have at least a depth role on offense as rookies, and that will especially be true if Kansas City decides against bringing in veteran competition.

Veach added that new deals for Donovan Smith (who was a full-time starter on the blindside when healthy in 2023) and Mecole Hardman (who served as a complementary wideout upon returning to Kansas City after being traded by the Jets) are not currently under consideration. Both players are among the more experienced options at their respective positions still on the market, and it will be interesting to see if interest from outside teams picks up in the comings days and weeks.

“If we need to go in a different direction before training camp, we will,” Veach added. “But I think now, we’re excited with where the roster is, and look forward to the final OTA periods… For right now, I think we’re going to let these young guys go out there and see what they can do and how much they can absorb.”

The two-time defending champions currently have just over $16MM in cap space, so even after their draft class is signed the team will have the flexibility to make additions. Kansas City’s roster sits at 81 (out of an offseason maximum of 90), and as such a healthy number of UDFAs will be incoming. Veteran pickups could remain on the table depending on how the summer takes shape, but any notable signings would come as a surprise based on Veach’s comments.

Chiefs Activate WR Mecole Hardman

December 30th, 2023 at 11:43am CST by Ben Levine

The Chiefs are getting some much-needed receiver help. The team is activating wide receiver Mecole Hardman off injured reserve, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The Chiefs have officially announced the move and confirmed that Hardman’s questionable injury designation has been removed.

After spending the first four seasons of his career in Kansas City, Hardman started the 2023 campaign with the Jets. However, he struggled to carve out a role in New York, and he was eventually traded to the Chiefs in October. Hardman got into four games with Kansas City before suffering a thumb injury that landed him on injured reserve.

The former second-round pick never transformed into the top-end WR that the Chiefs were hoping for. Even in his most productive season in 2021, Hardman still finished with only 59 catches for 693 yards, and following his trade back to Kansas City, he was only averaging two catches for about 10 yards per game.

However, the Chiefs could certainly use a spark in their receivers room. Rashee Rice has turned into a dependable target for Patrick Mahomes, with the rookie wideout hauling in 74 catches for 811 yards and seven touchdowns. However, the likes of Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Justin Watson have combined for only 74 catches for 832 yards and five touchdowns.

Hardman could see a role as soon as tomorrow against the Bengals. Toney is expected to be sidelined with a hip injury, meaning the recently-activated WR will join the likes of Watson, Moore, and Richie James behind Rice on the depth chart.

Chiefs Designate WR Mecole Hardman For Return; Latest On Kadarius Toney’s Role

December 21st, 2023 at 4:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Unavailable for most of his Giants stay and part of his first season with the Chiefs, Kadarius Toney has managed to stay healthy this year. That has, however, not translated to the game-breaking plays the Chiefs sought upon trading third- and sixth-round picks to acquire him. Instead, Toney has become the face of the team’s wide receiver problem.

The third-year player’s crucial offside infraction against the Bills preceded a Patriots game that featured a drop that led to an interception. The Chiefs viewed Toney as a potential No. 1 receiver this offseason, but the shifty ex-first-rounder has only caught 27 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown this year.

With the Chiefs’ options limited at wide receiver due to injuries and an offseason that featured a few upgrade efforts fail to cross the goal line, they are unlikely to remove Toney from a regular role on offense. Toney should be expected to remain part of the receiver rotation, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes.

Kansas City’s receiver troubles extend beyond Toney. Skyy Moore, whom the team placed on IR this week, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have made critical mistakes. While JuJu Smith-Schuster has underwhelmed in New England, his departure — after a 933-yard 2022 season — has been noticeable in Kansas City. The team will continue to depend on second-rounder Rashee Rice‘s development, as the SMU product holds a sizable yardage lead (754) among Chiefs wideouts.

The defending Super Bowl champions will have another option available soon. They designated Mecole Hardman for return Thursday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Kansas City reacquired Hardman in October, bringing him back after a few uneventful months in New York. Hardman contributed as a returner and receiver from 2019-22, posting three 500-plus-yard seasons while a Tyreek Hill sidekick. An injury cut Hardman’s 2022 season short and ultimately kept him out of Super Bowl LVII, but he qualifies as an auxiliary Patrick Mahomes target in a time of need. Hardman, 25, suffered a sprained thumb against the Eagles last month.

That said, Hardman has been slow to reacclimate in Missouri. Although he caught just one pass with the Jets, the former second-round pick has just eight catches for 41 yards since rejoining the Chiefs. Hardman also fumbled a punt return during a loss to the Broncos. With Moore on IR and Toney unreliable, it would not surprise to see the team reintegrate Hardman soon once he is activated. The Chiefs, who have six IR activations remaining, have 21 days to move Hardman back to the active roster.

Chiefs Place WR Mecole Hardman On IR

November 25th, 2023 at 2:32pm CST by Ely Allen

It looks like the Chiefs may have to wait a little longer to see the dividends from their recent reacquisition of wide receiver Mecole Hardman as they have officially placed their former second-round pick on injured reserve. The move comes after Hardman reportedly sprained his thumb during the team’s loss to the Eagles last week.

Hardman had parted ways with his former team after signing a one-year free agent deal with the Jets. Despite proving to be a strong contributor in Kansas City over his first four seasons, highlighted by his scoring of 18 touchdowns over that time, Hardman struggled to break through the depth chart in New York.

It was understandable that Hardman may slot behind Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and perhaps even Randall Cobb in the pecking order. It was the preference of head coach Robert Saleh for undrafted rookies like Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee that made spelled the doom of Hardman’s time in New York. This had Gang Green searching for a way to offload their offseason signing, eventually agreeing to a deal with Hardman’s former squad.

Unfortunately for Hardman, the fifth-year receiver has continued to struggle to find his role as the Chiefs have retooled their receiving corps. In four games back with his old team, Hardman has only eight catches for 41 yards. Unfortunately for Kansas City, they would still prefer to have him available, especially with wide receiver Kadarius Toney being ruled out of this Sunday’s contest in Las Vegas. Regardless, Hardman will be unavailable for at least the next four weeks.

In addition to placing Hardman on IR, the Chiefs also announced their two practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s clash with the Raiders. Wide receiver Montrell Washington will be called up to try and fill out the receiving corps with the absences of Hardman and Toney. Running back La’Mical Perine will also be called up to fill in for Jerick McKinnon, who has also been ruled out for tomorrow.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Onwenu

October 26th, 2023 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, the Dolphins made a splashy trade on deadline day. They sent the Broncos first- and fourth-round picks, along with Chase Edmonds for salary-matching purposes, for Bradley Chubb and subsequently signed the edge rusher to an extension. Although the Dolphins have shown more firepower this year and reside atop the AFC East at 5-2, they may not be too interested in a major exchange before Tuesday’s deadline. Mike McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) he is “very, very comfortable” with the team’s roster and that GM Chris Grier has not come to him with any trade offers.

The Dolphins, who have endured two double-digit losses, rank first offensively but have seen injuries stack up on their offensive line. Terron Armstead and Connor Williams have missed multiple games, and left guard Isaiah Wynn suffered what looks like a season-ending injury. Vic Fangio‘s defense also ranks 27th in points allowed, though Jalen Ramsey‘s return will be a significant in-season acquisition of sorts for that unit. While Miami also was connected to just about every potentially available running back this offseason, its De’Von Achane pick has been a hit, despite the third-rounder residing on short-term IR.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

The Jets re-signed Quincy Williams to a three-year, $18MM deal days before free agency, and the former Jaguars third-rounder has received rave reviews from the coaching staff this season. Pro Football Focus also ranks Williams as a top-10 off-ball linebacker. Williams, however, said he disagreed with the comps the team made when assessing his value this offseason. “I’m going to be honest with you; the contract situation threw me off, for real, for real,” Williams said, via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. “Listening to the players they thought were better than me, that kind of put a chip on my shoulder.” While that makes it rather interesting Williams did not test the market to gauge how other teams viewed him, his $6MM-per-year contract ended up similar to most of the veteran ILBs who hit free agency this year.
Robert Saleh said Duane Brown will not be designated for return this week. While Brown is eligible to practice this week, the New York Post’s Brian Costello notes he will not do so until at least Week 9. The 38-year-old tackle has been on IR with a hip injury since Sept. 23. The Jets moved Mekhi Becton to left tackle, but with RT replacement Alijah Vera-Tucker out for the season, it will be interesting to see if Becton is kicked back to the right side to create a spot for Brown.
Regarding the Jets’ Mecole Hardman trade, Saleh said (via Cimini) rookie UDFA Xavier Gipson made the free agent signing expendable. Gipson, who has operated as the Jets’ kick and punt returner this season, has only played 39 offensive snaps. Hardman only logged 28 during a disappointing Jets tenure, but it should be expected Gipson will see a bit more time at receiver going forward. Hardman played in the Chiefs’ Week 7 game, notching an impactful punt return and playing 11 offensive snaps back with his original NFL team.
Riley Reiff is now on IR for a second time this season, and trade acquisition Vederian Lowe struggled to replace him at right tackle. The Patriots moved guard Michael Onwenu back to right tackle in Week 7, with Bill Belichick approaching the contract-year player about the switch last week, per MassLive.com’s Chris Mason. Onwenu has spent time at right tackle during his Pats career but had settled in at guard. With the former sixth-round pick in a contract year, a right tackle switch could certainly affect his 2024 market.
Malik Cunningham once again passed through waivers and onto the Patriots’ practice squad, but the team was not as lucky with DB Ameer Speed. New England waived Speed last week, but ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss notes the team wanted him back on the P-squad. The Colts nixed that plan with a claim. A sixth-round pick this year, Speed played in five Pats games before his Foxborough exit.

Jets, Chiefs Agree On Mecole Hardman Trade

October 18th, 2023 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs did not have plans to re-sign Mecole Hardman this offseason, but with the former second-round pick quickly falling out of favor in New York, the defending champions will bring him back. The Jets agreed to trade Hardman to the Chiefs on Wednesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.

Kansas City and New York will swap late-round picks, per Schefter. These terms will make the Hardman deal similar to the Chase Claypool and Van Jefferson swaps this month. After failing to make an impression as a Jet, Hardman will return to Andy Reid‘s system.

This trade will indeed produce the same compensation package the Claypool and Jefferson exchanges did. The Chiefs will send the Jets a 2025 sixth-rounder for Hardman and a 2025 seventh, Schefter adds. By moving Hardman’s one-year, $4MM deal, the Jets will be responsible for nearly $3MM, OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald tweets. Although Hardman is attached to a $1.1MM base salary, the Jets spread out his cap hit via void years.

For the Chiefs, this will bring a familiar face back as the team attempts to form a viable wideout cast. Although JuJu Smith-Schuster has floundered in New England, Kansas City relied on the 2022 free agency pickup last season. Smith-Schuster’s 933 yards paced the ’22 Chiefs wideouts by a wide margin. So far this season, the Chiefs have been even more Travis Kelce-dependent than their previous edition was.

Although Hardman largely operated as an inconsistent sidekick to Tyreek Hill during his rookie-contract years in Kansas City, the Chiefs’ current wide receiver makeup creates an interesting opportunity. The Chiefs have been unable to rely on Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this season; the two starters have not yet combined for 300 receiving yards. The defending champions hoped Kadarius Toney would grow into a WR1-level staple, but the injury-prone target has submitted more inconsistency. While second-round rookie Rashee Rice (245 receiving yards — most among K.C. wideouts) is beginning to display a rapport with Patrick Mahomes, newfound long-range weapon Justin Watson suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 6 and profiles as an IR candidate.

The Chiefs had hoped to re-sign Smith-Schuster and negotiated with the ex-second-rounder, but Reid said the defending champions’ offer was not on the level of the Patriots’ three-year, $25.5MM proposal. While Smith-Schuster was a medium priority for the Chiefs, they were not rumored to have made a strong effort to keep Hardman. As a result, the 2019 second-rounder signed a one-year deal with the Jets. But the fit quickly proved poor, which will lead to a quick return to Missouri.

The Jets had been trying to move Hardman for a bit now, with he and Carl Lawson emerging as trade chips. Hardman resided behind Garrett Wilson and ex-Aaron Rodgers Packers targets Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. Hardman has played just 28 offensive snaps this season and has drifted to healthy-scratch status at points. With the Chiefs opting to take their chances on unproven targets at the position this year, Hardman will return with a chance to carve out a regular role.

Drafted shortly after the Chiefs banned Hill from their facility amid a 2019 investigation into domestic violence and child abuse, Hardman did not bring consistency for a team that eventually welcomed Hill back. Even with Sammy Watkins‘ run of injuries opening a WR2 window for Hardman, he proved unreliable to the point no big offers came his way in free agency. That said, the Chiefs boasted an all-time WR-TE duo in Hill and Kelce, leaving little meat on the bone for others. Through that lens, Hardman’s run was perhaps better than it was portrayed. He tallied yardage totals of 538, 560 and 693 from 2019-21, becoming an All-Pro kick returner as a rookie.

A pelvis injury slowed Hardman in his contract year, and he went back on IR before Super Bowl LVII. But Reid deployed the receiver/returner as an effective gadget player pre-injury. He totaled three touchdowns (two rushing) in a blowout win over the 49ers in Week 7 of last season. Hardman will now be eligible to play for his initial NFL team in Week 7 of this year. While this may not solve Kansas City’s receiver need to the point the team stops looking for help ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline, it represents a low-cost start.

Hardman leaving thins the Jets’ depth chart, but they had essentially determined he was not a fit. Behind Wilson and the ex-Packer duo, rookie UDFAs Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee join 2022 UDFA Charles Irvin. More playing time will be available now, and an injury to one of the regulars would open the door to one of these undrafted pass catchers (likely Gipson) playing a major role for the 3-3 team.

Latest On Jets’ Efforts To Move Mecole Hardman, Carl Lawson

October 18th, 2023 at 2:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

While defense has powered the Jets to their 3-3 place, the team has expendable veterans on offense it is trying to unload. Dalvin Cook and Mecole Hardman have come up as pieces the Jets are OK with moving, though traction on potential trades has proven elusive.

Cook has not been effective as a Jet, and Breece Hall has rocketed back to form after an October 2022 ACL tear. Cook remains in limbo, operating as an expensive backup, but Hardman does not have a role months after signing a one-year, $4MM deal. The Jets are aiming to trade Hardman, with a release also in the cards. This might come down to the wire, with the trade deadline still nearly two weeks away.

So far, Hardman is not generating much interest as a trade chip, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan writes. Prior to Hardman becoming a Jet in March, he drew interest from the Browns, Raiders, Lions and Vikings. Although Hardman is only attached to a $1.1MM salary — of which an acquiring team would be responsible for barely half, with the season more than a third complete — his minimal production has likely led to the tepid market.

A 2019 second-round pick, Hardman totaled at least 530 receiving yards for the Chiefs each year from 2019-21. A core muscle injury sidelined Hardman for much of his contract year, leading to the $4MM payment this offseason. While the Georgia-produced speedster did not quite live up to expectations in Kansas City, he has barely played in New York. Hardman has one catch for six yards, playing behind Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb in an offense limited by Zach Wilson being needed to replace an injured Aaron Rodgers.

Due to the void years attached to Hardman’s contract for cap purposes, it would cost the Jets around $3MM to cut him. The ex-Chiefs gadget talent does reside as notable insurance, but his fifth season has skidded off track. The same can be said for Carl Lawson‘s seventh season. The Jets have gone from making Lawson a $15MM-per-year player in 2021 to demoting him to healthy-scratch status at points this season. Caplan confirms the Jets are trying to trade Lawson.

Although Lawson returned from the Achilles tear that ended his 2021 season before it began, the former Bengals cog has seen younger players surpass him on the Jets’ depth chart. The team used first-round picks on Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald in consecutive years, and Caplan adds Johnson’s early-offseason form prompted the Jets to ask Lawson for a pay cut. The former third-rounder accepted in May, but he has played only 73 defensive snaps this season. Johnson, John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff serve as Gang Green’s top edge rushers. Even as McDonald has not yet become a regular (58 snaps), 2022 fourth-rounder Micheal Clemons (136) has been called upon more often than Lawson.

Lawson, 28, is tied to a $6MM base salary. Due to including four void years in Lawson’s restructure, the Jets would eat more than $6MM by cutting Lawson this year. If/once Lawson does not re-sign in 2024, the Jets will be hit with a $6MM dead-money payment — should the veteran edge player remain on the team to finish this season. After notching seven sacks and 24 QB hits in 2022, Lawson is at 0-0 in those categories through six games. A backup in his rookie season, Johnson has two sacks and three pass deflections thus far in Year 2.

Formerly a sought-after free agent after the Bengals passed on franchise-tagging him, Lawson is submitting a contract-year no-show. He did produce impact years (from a pressure standpoint) in Cincinnati and previously moved the needle in New York. Lawson’s Achilles tear two summers ago led to the Jets cratering defensively in Robert Saleh‘s debut, which concluded with a last-place defense. Lawson helped the team make major strides last season, but the team is deep enough it no longer needs him. Injuries can change the equations for both Hardman and Lawson, but it will also be interesting to see if the Jets accept a low-end trade offer for either. In Lawson’s case, that would likely mean eating some of his salary — as the Broncos recently did to facilitate a Randy Gregory trade.

Load More Posts