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.
Chiefs fans love him. He’s not a solution to the WR issues but he raises the floor
I don’t love him at all. Hold my breath anytime he touches the ball. Baby hands, fumbles everything. Wish he would immediately go down or out of bounds
I am a Chiefs fan and I only kinda like Mecole. He is okay, he catches 2 out of every 3 passes thrown his way. He is a solid rotational piece, but I don’t want him lining up on every offensive snap.
What WR issues do people think KC has? Just won 2 SB back-to-back and aiming to threepeat. Just drafted Xavier Worthy and picked up Hollywood Brown. I don’t think this team has any issues at WR, one of there WR’s clearly has issues but that’s not the same thing. Outside of injuries KC is set at WR for the season with or without Rice. (Personally couldn’t care less if Rice ever came back).
Is it the fact that KC doesn’t have some over paid diva demanding to much money that makes people think that KC doesn’t have a WR group?
Is this a national assumption?
He only really works well with KC. The small size we saw as a Jet he didn’t do anything, Hackett is trash OC though but still.
Dude played a total of 30 snaps for the Jets. Hackett is trash, but I truly can’t remember a higher ratio of dollars to snaps for a new acquisition who wasn’t injured or otherwise indisposed. It’s like he got in the building and immediately said “Whoops, never mind.”
Saw that coming. Why not try to win a third Super Bowl with the best quarterback in football lmao
The new kickoff rule is getting folks paid lol
Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore have done incredible work to make Mecole Hardman seem like a guy KC wants to have around.
Chiefs fans love him……who’s speaking for Chiefs fans because……we could’ve done way better than Hardman, speak for yourself
Come get me
It’s the only team who can make him a useful NFL player and Mahomes obviously trusts him, so it makes sense.