After winning two Super Bowls under head coach Andy Reid, wide receiver Mecole Hardman is heading back to Kansas City via a trade from the New York Jets.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Chiefs have agreed to send a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to New York in exchange for Hardman and a 2025 seventh-round draft choice on Wednesday afternoon.
Hardman spent the first four seasons of his career in Kansas City and left in free agency to join Aaron Rodgers in the Big Apple to the tune of $4 million for one season. Instead, the Jets’ 2023 spiraled downward after Rodger’s Achilles injury, and Hardman didn’t have much involvement on offense, with just one catch for six yards through six games.
Hardman expressed frustration with the limited snaps he’s received from the Jets coaching staff.
“I’m probably the best in the league in space,” Hardman told ESPN in an interview. “Maybe [the coaches] see something different,”
Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ wide receiving core has taken longer than expected to make the sort of impact the team was expecting. Veterans Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Skyy Moore have struggled thus far into the season. Although there are signs of gradual improvement, the Chiefs need another pass catcher on the field.
Hardman provides Kansas City with someone who can immediately come in and hit the ground running. He’s familiar with Andy Reid’s playbook and has continuity with Patrick Mahomes. The former Georgia product had a career year in 2021 with 59 receptions for 693 yards. But his production fell off last season due to injuries. Still, Hardman has the talent to be dangerous in space and the speed necessary to add some juice to a sluggish WR room.
