Mecole Hardman Jr., a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams with the Chiefs, returned to Kansas City via a trade from the New York Jets on Wednesday.
The Chiefs are sending a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to the Jets for Hardman and a 2025 seventh-round pick, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Rashee Rice.
Hardman began his career in Kansas City, where he caught 151 passes for 2,088 yards and 16 touchdowns over four seasons and was part of Super Bowl-winning teams in 2019 and 2022, providing a speedy element alongside Tyreek Hill (prior to his 2022 departure for Miami). Changes to the Chiefs' receiving corps this offseason followed Kansas City's Super Bowl LVII triumph, including the decision to not re-sign Hardman, who eventually made his way to the East Coast, signing with the Jets in March.
Jets with the same speed threat and catch-and-run ability he'd once given the Chiefs. Instead, he became irrelevant, falling out of favor and recording just one catch for six yards in five games, leading the Jets to trade him without so much as a second thought.
While the Chiefs are off to strong start in their Super Bowl defense at 5-1, there's room for help on the wide receiving depth chart. Rookie Rashee Rice (21 catches for 245 yards) leads Chiefs wide receivers with 40.8 yards per game in a group with no clear No. 2 option next to All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce.
Hardman doesn't necessarily project as that, but he provides Mahomes with another weapon while adding a speed dynamic to an already potent offense. His return in exchange for a late-round draft swap will be welcome in Kansas City.
Hardman was a second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2019 and played four years for them before signing a one-year, $4 million contract with the Jets this offseason. He did next to nothing with the Jets, playing just 28 snaps on offense and two on special teams and only touching the ball once.
The Chiefs will always have a good passing game as long as they have Patrick Mahomes, but their wide receivers haven’t played well this year, and Hardman should help.
In four seasons with the Chiefs, Hardman caught 152 passes for 2,094 yards and 16 touchdowns.
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