Here’s why KC Chiefs’ WR Mecole Hardman believes his ‘opportunity is bigger’ this fall
Opportunity knocks for Chiefs fourth-year wide receiver Mecole Hardman.
After three seasons playing alongside a pair of All-Pros in tight end Travis Kelce and recently traded star receiver Tyreek Hill, Hardman suddenly finds himself in position for a bigger role in the offense.
The Chiefs’ third-leading receiver in 2021 embraces the upcoming challenge.
“The opportunity is bigger,” Hardman said Monday, the first day of the Chiefs’ offseason workout program. “That just helps the coaches and the coaching staff to really see how they want to use me in that role, or how they’re going to use me this year.
“But it’s up to me to be prepared for that and just get better each and every day. However they want to do everything, I’ll be ready for it.
Someone will need to fill the void of Hill’s team-high 159 targets from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2021. The Chiefs added free-agent wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who signed a three-year deal in the wake of Hill’s trade. Daurice Fountain and Josh Gordon also return from last season’s roster.
But the 5-foot-10, 187-pound Hardman, who has finished third in receiving for two straight years, makes the most sense for bulked-up duty because he’s been in the system and knows the offense.
The Chiefs’ second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Hardman is coming off a career year. He had 59 catches for 693 yards on 83 targets last season. He produced 46 yards rushing on eight carries and tallied four touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving).
Hardman for his career has made 126 catches for 1,791 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging a stout 14.2 yards per catch.
Most importantly, the wide receiver who possesses 4.33 speed in the 40-yard dash has the trust of Chiefs coach Andy Reid’.
“The one nice thing is that we know what Mecole can do and we have a lot of confidence in what he can do,” Reid said. “He’s coming off a big year and he’s going to continue to grow here over the next couple of years.
“So, Mecole has the speed like a Tyreek had. A different player, but he gives you a nice skill-set there with the speed and quickness, and the ability to run with the ball is in his hands. He’s a very aggressive runner when he has the ball in his hands. So you find ways to do that in a variety of different ways.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes agreed. But he said Hardman must continue to be himself now, not try to be a carbon-copy of Hill, the prolific wide receiver who was traded this offseason to the Miami Dolphins.
“He doesn’t have to be Tyreek Hill, I mean, he has to be Mecole Hardman,” Mahomes said. “I think Mecole Hardman can be a great player in this offense. He’s made a Pro Bowl already and I think he can keep getting better and better.”
How the Chiefs plan to utilize Hardman remains to be seen, but he’s spent part of the offseason working out with Mahomes and the Chiefs’ newest receivers in Texas.
He doesn’t have to be a copy of Hill, but his number will no doubt be called on plays previously designed for Hill.
“A once in a generation-type of player has left the team, so somebody’s got to step up and fill the role — or most of us have got to step up and fill that void,” Hardman said. “But for myself, personally, I just want to be better than I was last year.
“Get better as an overall receiver and, like, kind of establish my name a little bit more. Catching the ball, running routes, yards after catch, everything trying to improve on and just get better.”
