Veterans highlight plays showing what he brings to receiver competition

Mike Spofford

GREEN BAY Having scored a Super Bowl-winning overtime touchdown in his career,Mecole Hardmanisn't about to start strutting around the Packers' locker room after a couple noteworthy plays in a mid-June minicamp.

But the free agent receiver from Kansas City sure is ending the offseason program on a high note.

The 5-10, 187-pound Hardman, signed by Green Bay in late March, concluded Tuesday's workout in the two-minute drill by leaping amidst a crowd of bodies in the end zone to haul in, one-handed,Sean Clifford's desperation toss for a touchdown.

Then he put the exclamation point on Wednesday's practice, in another two-minute drill, by beating the defense deep and running underneath an impressive under-duress rainbow fromJordan Lovefor a roughly 75-yard score.

Which play did he like better?

"I think I like the deep ball better, man," Hardman said after Wednesday's practice. "There's just something about catching a long pass and scoring. The one-hander was nice, too, but I like the deep ball."

It wasn't without dispute from the defense, which felt its blitz got home and would've sacked Love in a real game situation. Even Head Coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged it was "questionable whether he gets that ball off or not."

But it was a whale of a play nonetheless, two of them really, all in a couple days' work for the seven-year veteran who will be in the fight of his life for a roster spot amidst Green Bay's young and talented receiving corps.

The situation isn't exactly what Hardman expected, as he saw "a lot of green flags no pun intended" when he visited the Packers during free agency. LaFleur's offense and Love's ability were certainly attractive, and the Packers didn't acquire any of the big-name receivers off the open market.

But then a month after Hardman signed, Green Bay used its first- and third-round draft picks, respectively, on receiversMatthew GoldenandSavion Williams, changing the equation at the position. Hardman never balked, though, not only reaching out to the two new draft picks when they were selected but embracing the battle to come, which will start in earnest in training camp.

"I've been in the league seven years, so I've never been the type to shy away from competition," he said, admitting he didn't know he'd be the oldest receiver on the roster. "Myself, I've been in stacked rooms before. Our job as receivers is to make it hard for the coaches to make a decision."

That's precisely what LaFleur likes to hear, as he appreciates Hardman's veteran presence and credentials, which include three Super Bowl rings over six seasons with the Chiefs (sandwiched around a brief, unsuccessful stint with the Jets in 2023).

A second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl returner early in his career, when he ran back a kickoff for a TD as a second-round rookie and then a punt for a score in his second season, Hardman could give the Packers another option in that phase.

He believes the key for any returner is "you can't fear nothing, for sure," and while he prefers the old-style kickoff return because the newfangled setup is "cluttered a lot," he does recognize the safety aspect and is open to whatever the Packers ask him to do.

But he'd also like to get back to being the receiver who caught 151 passes for 2,088 yards (13.8 avg.) and 16 TDs in the first four years of his career. He's got three postseason touchdowns as well, including the historic one to beat the 49ers in overtime in Super Bowl LIV just two seasons ago.

"It's nice to have a guy that's played, and played in some big-time moments," LaFleur said.

The 4.3 speed he possessed coming out of Georgia in 2019 still appears evident, too.

"I can do a lot," Hardman said. "Bring speed to the offense, whether it's the gadget plays or the deep balls down the field, the screen game, YAC I've shown that over the years that once you get the ball in my hands, I can make things happen."

So what's his path from a crowded competition to a roster spot?

"Don't try to be Superman," he said.

The last two days might beg to differ.