Mecole Hardman traded back from the Jets to the Chiefs

Add as preferred source on Google

It looks like a Chiefs reunion is on the horizon, though it’s not the one many had anticipated after last week’s news.

According to ESPN, the New York Jets are trading wide receiver Mecole Hardman back to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a sixth and seventh-round draft pick in 2025.

Adam Schefter, a senior NFL insider with ESPN, confirmed the details on his Twitter account.

Hardman signed a one-year deal with the Jets for $4 million in March but has seen minimal action under Nathaniel Hackett’s offensive setup in New York.

The 25-year-olkd has just one catch on three targets for six yards in five games this season.

Reunion

Last week, a lot of the talk around the Chiefs was focused on Frank Clark and his potential return to the linebacking crew.

Clark was released by the Denver Broncos shortly after their loss to KC on Thursday Night Football and could still return to the team at some point.

In the meantime, the re-acquisition of Hardman could fill a big hole in the Chiefs wide receiving department.

That area has had its struggles this season, with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore all having a tough year to date.

The three of them were supposed to help fill the void left by the departure of JuJu Smith-Schuster, but to this point of the season, they have combined to make just 35 catches for 353 yards and two touchdowns between them.

So far in 2023, the Chiefs leading wide receiver is rookie Rashee Rice, who’s made 21 receptions for 245 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

While Hardman didn’t put up monstrous numbers in the receiving department during his Chiefs tenure, he’s a familiar face that Mahomes had a level of trust with.

His his best season in KC came in 2021 when he had 59 catches for 693 yards and two scores.

In his rookie year with the Chiefs in 2019, Hardman had a career-high six touchdowns and averaged 20.7 yards per catch.

He’s not yet been able to replicate those numbers, but he’s also struggled to stay 100 per cent healthy.

During his time in Kansas City, Hardman did add an extra speed element to the Chiefs’ offense alongside Tyreek Hill.

The Jets were hoping he would add that extra dimension in the speed game that they were looking for, however, Hardman was leapfrogged early in the season by the strong play of rookie Xavier Gipson, relegating him to fourth on their receiving depth chart.

Though he never publicly complained about his lack of playing time in New York, Hardman seemed to vent his frustrations in a recent interview with ESPN.

In that interview, Hardman said: “I’m probably the best in the league in space,” he said. “Maybe [the coaches] see something different.”

During his previous tenure with the Chiefs, Hardman not only helped them win two Super Bowls but averaged over 10 yards per reception each year.

If his injury concerns are behind him, he could be an excellent addition who you would think would fit right back in with the Chiefs’ offense.