The Chicago Bears should consider Mecole Hardman should he hit free agency
Mecole Hardman is another wide receiver that the Chicago Bears should consider if he hits free agency. Hardman struggled with injuries this year. In fact, he may not even play in the Super Bowl. If we look at Hardman’s short career overall, we will see a consistent progression. He was supposed to have a breakout year once Tyreek Hill was gone, but that didn’t happen.
Hardman only played in eight games this year — starting in five. He only saw 34 targets this season after seeing 83 the year before. Hardman found the end zone four times but only came away with 297 yards. Last season, he finished with 693 yards. If we look at his first three years with the Chiefs, Hardman averaged over 550 yards per year. I think it’s safe to say his lack of production this year was more to do with his injuries than anything else. Had he played a full season, he would have gained over 600 yards.
Hardman may not be a top wide receiver in the NFL, but he’s proven himself to be a solid WR2 or WR3. Should he become available via free agency, Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears could follow a similar route to what I laid out when discussing JuJu Smith-Schuster. They can add Hardman to the roster this year and then look to draft Marvin Harrison, Jr. in 2024.