The Buffalo Bills wide receiver room will look different in 2024, and one notable outlet believes the team could add free agent Mecole Hardman into the mix. After trading Stefon Diggs and losing Gabriel Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Josh Allen will make do with tight end Dalton Kincaid, second-round pick Keon Coleman, and veterans Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir. This isn’t the worst group in the league by any stretch of the imagination, but it might not be enough to keep up with the other elite passing attacks in the NFL.
While the team signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a low-risk one-year deal, Buffalo could bring in another speedster. According to a recent Bleacher Report article, the Bills could target free agent wide receiver Mecole Hardman as potential depth.
The Bills’ need at receiver might be a little overstated. Khalil Shakir was highly efficient last season and could have a breakout season after catching 39 of his 45 targets for 611 yards last season. If Coleman can blossom into a No. 1 receiver, then they could become a good one-two punch.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to add a low-cost vet like Mecole Hardman who works as an additional vertical threat.
Buffalo Bills Connected to Free Agent Mecole Hardman
Mecole Hardman became a free agent after one of the more interesting seasons you’ll ever see. Originally signed to a one-year deal with the Jets, New York parted ways with the veteran after just five games, one reception, and two (allegedly) leaked gameplans. The former second-round pick landed with the receiver-needy Kansas City Chiefs and picked up right where he left off with the organization. While he remained a depth option in the passing attack, Hardman finished the season by recording the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII.
If signed as a free agent, Mecole Hardman and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will effectively compete for the same role as the one-dimensional deep threat in the offense. Both players have the potential to stretch the field vertically but lack the nuance and precision to do much else. Fortunately, defenses must respect their speed, as Josh Allen has the strongest arm in the game and can reach any area of the field. With safeties playing deep, their speed should open up underneath throws for Samuel and Shakir.
Nobody will break the bank for Mecole Hardman, but the Bills shouldn’t be the only team interested in the free agent. While he might have to settle for a veteran minimum deal, these five organizations should be interested in kicking the tires on the Georgia product.
Other Potential Destinations
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are trying to get by with quantity over quality at the wide receiver position. After parting ways with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, Jim Harbaugh’s team added several bodies to the depth chart. In addition to the disappointing Quentin Johnston, the Chargers drafted three wide receivers and signed DJ Chark as a free agent. This is a good start, but they could use another low-risk, medium-reward signing like Mecole Hardman. While he won’t be anything more than a gadget player, the longtime Chief could be a decent home run threat on play action in this run-heavy offense.
New York Giants
Darius Slayton could be on the trade block, which means Mecole Hardman could be a cost-effective free agent replacement. Malik Nabers should contribute right out of the gate, and Wan’Dale Robinson showed plenty of promise through his first two seasons. On paper, second-year wideout Jalin Hyatt can be the third option and deep threat in this passing attack. However, his rookie season wasn’t anything to write home about, and Hardman could be a decent insurance policy in the event he can’t make the Year 3 leap.
Seattle Seahawks
As things currently stand, the Seattle Seahawks are set at wide receiver. However, with Tyler Lockett trade rumors swirling, this team might need more depth at the position sooner rather than later. Geno Smith will enter the season as the starter, but first-year head coach Mike Macdonald could bring in Sam Howell if the veteran struggles. Howell is at his best when he’s stretching the field vertically, and he could use a free agent like Mecole Hardman paired with DK Metcalf and 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have two decent receivers in Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson paired with a high-risk, high-reward first-round pick in Xavier Legette. While this is a sizable improvement from the 2023 depth chart, this team could still use another receiver or two. Jonathan Mingo showed nothing as a rookie, and Hardman could reinforce the depth chart. Young was one of the worst deep ball throwers in the game last year, but that could be due to a lack of downfield talent. Perhaps a free agent like Mecole Hardman can help bring out the Alabama version of Young.
Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp form one of the strongest wide receiver duos in the game and are more than capable of getting open against any type of coverage. However, their Achilles heel is their relative lack of speed. With Van Jefferson now in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles could use a straight-line deep threat like Hardman on the roster. Maybe he won’t catch too many passes, but opposing defenses must respect the speed Mecole Hardman brings as a free agent. This will make life easier for Nacua and Kupp and ultimately lead to a more complete offense.
Main Photo: Stephen R. Slyvanie – USA Today Sports
