Despite signing a deal this offseason with the team, the Green Bay Packers will cut wide receiver Mecole Hardman before the 2025 regular season starts. Several NFL teams are solidifying their final 53-man roster, and it looks like Hardman won’t make the final cuts. Reports made it official that the three-time Super Bowl champion didn’t show enough in training camp and preseason to make the team. Hardman had a ton of success being a capable playmaker for the Kansas City Chiefs, especially getting some opportunities on special teams.
Originally selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the former Georgia product began his journey with the Chiefs in his first stint as a rotational weapon for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. After three seasons, he left for the Jets for one year and came back to Kansas City to run it back with Mahomes to stabilize the receiver core group that was struggling last season, but that came to a short-lived situation since the team lost in a brutal fashion against the Philadelphia Eagles. Since then, Hardman became a free agent and has been hoping for a new opportunity until the Packers gave him that chance. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to replicate his past production, and given that Green Bay has a ton of receivers in the depth, they decided to part ways with Hardman.
Breaking: Packers Cut Former Chiefs Legend Mecole Hardman – Will Anyone Take a Chance?
Next Possible Fits
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a wide receiver since they’ll be without Jordan Addison for the first three weeks of the 2025 regular season. While the team is struggling to come to a contract agreement to bring back veteran Adam Thielen, the Vikings might need to roll the dice and go the cheap route. Between Justin Jefferson, Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton, they must put quarterback JJ McCarthy in the best position with another weapon that has length and can catch the ball in the air. Hardman isn’t going to drastically change this offense around, but he’s a solid veteran who can hold it down for the next few games.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Meanwhile, after releasing Robert Woods, the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting a bit younger in their receiver unit. However, between DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson, these are arguably the only weapons that could make a huge difference in the aerial attack. Scotty Miller might be a hidden gem for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but why not get another receiver?
Hardman probably won’t last more than a season in Pittsburgh, but it should give Rodgers more stability in the passing game since Hardman has three Super Bowls under his belt.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers’ plan for this 2025 regular season is to build a strong run game, but they can’t avoid upgrading the wide receiver core group. The team signed Keenan Allen, who could have some juice left in the tank, but no one should expect him to be the same playmaker he once was. With that, he and 2024 draft pick Ladd McConkey are probably the only ones who will stay consistent for Justin Herbert’s aerial attack. Hardman hasn’t been consistent in a few seasons, but another body for this offense should be efficient when dealing with KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Tre Harris’ development.
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