Mecole Hardman's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. on Thursday, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The 26-year-old will return for his sixth season with the organization after catching the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers. While Hardman hasn't been a superstar since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, he has caught the third-most touchdowns (16) from Patrick Mahomes, trailing only Travis Kelce (47) and Tyreek Hill (43). Mahomes and the Chiefs trusted him in a crucial moment in the Super Bowl, so he'll likely earn snaps in 2024. Given the uncertainty surrounding Rashee Rice's legal troubles, Kansas City has now drafted Xavier Worthy and brought back Hardman. Hardman has hauled in 166 passes for 2,212 yards and 16 touchdowns through his first 68 career games.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. played the role of hero for his team in Super Bowl LVIII, reeling in the game-winning touchdown from three yards out to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22. Hardman pulled in each of his three targets for 57 yards in Sunday's big game, also coming down with a 52-yard bomb to get the Chiefs into a goal-to-go during the second quarter. After playing just one snap in the AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens, the 25-year-old stepped up as a deep threat when it mattered most for a Chiefs offense desperate for playmaking down the field all year long. Though he authored quite a feel-good story going from a New York Jets castoff to catching a championship-winning TD, Hardman's Super Bowl heroics are unlikely to make him worth rostering in the majority of 2024 fantasy drafts. Whether it's back with K.C. or another squad, the former Pro Bowl kick returner should find a home next season.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. paced the team in receiving yardage during Week 18's 13-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, gathering six of his 11 targets for 77 yards. Hardman ended up being the most significant beneficiary of K.C. holding Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce out of action for a contest with no consequence, generating more yardage in this matchup alone than he had coming into play in 10 appearances this season (47). It was certainly a positive takeaway for the 25-year-old deep threat, who may have earned a bit more playing time in the postseason for a Chiefs offense desperate for playmaking down the field. Hardman will still carry nothing greater than dart-throw DFS status for next weekend's Wild Card round, with Rice and Kelce certainly returning to the field on Saturday versus the Miami Dolphins.