Kansas City Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman sees ‘opportunity’ after losing ‘once-in-a-generation’ WR Tyreek Hill

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mecole Hardman stated he did no celebrating upon studying the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs traded fellow extensive receiver Tyreek Hill. He referred to as the lack of Hill “positively successful for certain,” including that Hill’s mere presence opened probabilities for different Chiefs receivers.

However now that Hill is with the Miami Dolphins the scenario in Kansas Metropolis is not misplaced on Hardman. He is the Chiefs’ solely returning extensive receiver with greater than 5 catches final season, placing him in line for his greatest season at an opportune time in his profession. He is going into the ultimate yr of his contract.

“The chance is larger,” stated Hardman, who had 59 catches for 693 yards and two touchdowns in 2021. “It is as much as the coaches, the teaching workers, to essentially see how they wish to use me this yr. It is as much as me to be ready for that.

“A once-in-a-generation kind of participant has left the group so anyone’s bought to step up and fill a job. … I simply wish to be higher than I used to be final yr, get higher as an total receiver, type of set up my identify a bit of bit extra. Catching the ball, operating routes, yards after catch, all the things I am attempting to enhance on.”

Hardman was the Chiefs’ second-round draft choose in 2019. The Chiefs hoped he would supply a quick receiving choice to Hill and tight finish Travis Kelce.

He had his moments, like catching an 83-yard landing cross as a rookie to assist the Chiefs beat the Baltimore Ravens or his first 100-plus-yard receiving sport final yr in opposition to the Denver Broncos.

However with Hill and Kelce round he is by no means been a constant producer.

“I took benefit once I bought my likelihood, even with all people round,” he stated. “I feel I did what I used to be imagined to do.”

Aside from Kelce, Hardman is now probably the most acquainted pass-catcher Mahomes has. The Chiefs additionally misplaced two of final season’s different prime extensive receivers, Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson, to free company.

“I feel at any time when Mecole has gotten alternatives on this offense, whether or not it was when Tyreek needed to exit or he would are available in and run the routes that Tyreek ran, he would make performs occur,” Mahomes stated. “He made numerous massive performs in massive moments, particularly on the finish of final season.

“For me it is for him to only proceed to be himself. He would not must be Tyreek Hill. He must be Mecole Hardman and I feel Mecole Hardman generally is a nice participant on this offense. … He can preserve getting higher and higher. All people places on the market he is bought to switch Tyreek. I feel he may be his personal participant, a Professional Bowler and a fantastic participant on this offense as effectively. I feel simply him persevering with to evolve, play exhausting and apply exhausting, he’ll have a fantastic season this yr.”

Hardman is now one of many Chiefs’ prime 4 extensive receivers, becoming a member of free-agent additions JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and second-round draft choose Skyy Moore.

“The one good factor is we all know what Mecole can do,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated. “Now we have numerous confidence in what he can do. He is coming off a great yr.

“Mecole has the velocity like a Tyreek had. Completely different participant, however like what Tyreek had. He offers you a pleasant skillset there with the velocity and quickness and talent to run when the ball is in his arms. He is a really aggressive runner when the ball is in his arms. You discover methods to do this in quite a lot of other ways.”

Sparking a few of Hardman’s optimism about this season is the way in which he completed the final one. He caught a 53-yard cross in a Week 17 sport in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals after which had the 103-yard sport in opposition to the Broncos.

Within the three playoff video games, he averaged greater than 15 yards per catch, rushed for 55 yards and scored two touchdowns.

“We type of found out what we should always do relating to me so far as what time to get me a jet sweep, what time to get me a display screen or when to come back to me in sure conditions,” Hardman stated. “Coming into this yr, I am fairly certain they are going to attempt to do one thing comparable as to the way it was on the finish of the yr.”

Hardman is headed into the ultimate season of the contract he signed as a rookie, one thing he stated is “positively a thought” as he prepares for the season. He is solely 24 and will take command of the Chiefs’ extensive receiving group by having a giant season and securing a brand new, long-term contract.

“In that scenario, cash talks, proper?” Reid stated when requested about his expertise with gamers of their contract seasons. “They’re all going to attempt their greatest to have their greatest yr.

“You usually are going to get their greatest throughout these contract years, or at the very least that is what I’ve discovered. I do know some individuals say guys tank if you’re within the hunt of issues. They’re all in there going full velocity. That is what I’ve seen.”