Kansas City Chiefs: Does Mecole Hardman have a role if Tyreek Hill plays?
How do the Kansas City Chiefs use Mecole Hardman if Tyreek Hill plays?
It has been over a month since the situation surrounding Kansas City Chiefs Tyreek Hill hit the masses. Many concerning stories about Hill have been reported and while it is unclear what it is true and what is not, I think we all expected to have some clarity about Hill’s availability for the Chiefs by now.
However, there has still not been any movement in that department. At this point, it seems possible, if not likely, that the Kansas City Chiefs will have Hill readily available for the 2019 season.
Seemingly in preparation for the loss of Hill, the Chiefs traded up Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Hardman is an extremely quick, agile and explosive wide receiver who has obvious big-play potential at the next level.
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Hardman is a bit of a raw talent, but his upside is obvious. With a similar skill set to Hill, it is easy to question whether the Chiefs drafted Hardman in preparation of losing Hill to suspension. If Hill ends up avoiding suspension, what happens with Hardman?
We are all questioning Hill’s decisions off-the-field, but his on-field performance speaks for itself. Hill is the single most explosive player in the entire NFL and has an impressive rapport with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Hardman is an impressive talent, but he is not good enough to come in and replace Hill right away.
If Hill does end up seeing the field in 2019, Hardman is going to have to make an impact in a complementary role. If nothing else, he can come in and be an immediate asset for the Kansas City Chiefs on special teams. He is an explosive player who can consistently flip field position as a returner.
Offensively, Hardman may have a hard time making an immediate impact. Similarly to Hill, Hardman is small for a wide receiver. There simply may not be enough room in the Chiefs offense for consistent playing time for both Hill and Hardman. As the much more established receiver, Hill will obviously receive the bulk of the playing time.
That being said, I think Hardman and Hill could play together in certain packages. There is no such thing as having too much speed on the field at once. Having two explosive receivers like Hill and Hardman on the field at the same time would be tough for any defense to defend. The combination of Hill, Hardman, Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce could be deadly.
Mahomes is the best deep-ball quarterback in the NFL and has an obvious rapport with Hill. Hardman’s explosive speed and elusiveness on the field would seemingly fit perfect with Mahomes’ big arm and off-the-cuff playing style.
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Drafting Hardman was a brilliant move by the Chiefs because it gives them legitimate security against losing one of their best offensive assets. On top of that, I think Hardman and Hill could play together if necessary, at least on a limited basis, and would make for a particularly explosive duo.