Nobody knows Mecole Hardman better than Andy Reid. It was Reid that drafted the speedster in the second round of the draft in 2019, created a role for him on the Kansas City Chiefs offense, brought him back after he was cut by the New York Jets, and allowed him to catch an overtime touchdown in the Super Bowl.
So when Reid speaks, you listen.
During NFL Meetings in Florida, the Chiefs head coach was asked by ESPN's reporter Rob Demovsky about how he thinks Hardman will play for the Green Bay Packers after signing a one-year deal. Hardman's speed is the main weapon in his game.
"Yeah, they will find a role for him. Good kid, and fast," Reid said. "He'll do a nice job for them."
Mecole Hardman is expected to have some type of offensive role, especially while Christian Watson is recovering from his ACL injury. But Hardman's main importance for the Packers is what he can do in the return game, because he can return both kickoffs and punts.
A real concern for Hardman is that he missed games in each of the past three years because of injuries, and that might take a hit in his athletic level. However, Andy Reid believes Hardman is still explosive enough to make an impact.
"Oh yeah, he can still play, sure," Reid added. "Absolutely."
It's a low-risk, decent-reward type of signing. Mecole Hardman signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract. It's a $1.461 million cap hit if Hardman makes the roster, and there's only $150k in guaranteed money in the form of a signing bonus.
Andy Reid himself also has a strong connection with the Packers. He spent seven years as an assistant coach in Green Bay, Mike Holmgren's entire tenure on the team. Reid was an assistant offensive line and tight ends coach from 1992 to 1996, winning a Super Bowl ring, and then was promoted to quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach.
When Holmgren went to the Seattle Seahawks in 1999, the Packers decided to hire Ray Rhodes as the head coach, and Reid was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles to replace Rhodes.
