Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver/return man Mecole Hardman emerged as a bonafide weapon on offense and special teams as a rookie. As a result, special teams coordinator Dave Toub is doing what he can to prolong the inevitable.

Hardman established himself as one of the NFL's elite return men during the 2019 campaign. According to NFL Network's James Palmer, Dave Toub feels it is just the tip of the iceberg as far as his potential goes:

“I’m not sure about Hardman. I don’t want to lose him. I think he’s just scratched the surface as a returner.”

Dave Toub's comments are telling of the kind of potential Hardman has heading into just his second year. He provided Kansas City with plenty of bang for their buck after the former second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft established himself as an immediate playmaker on offense and special teams.

Hardman added yet another explosive dynamic to this high-powered Chiefs offense with 26 receptions for 538 yards and six touchdowns. Of course, his biggest impact came on special teams as he finished third in the NFL with 704 kickoff return yards while averaging over twenty-six yards per return. His efforts earned him Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in his first season.

Although Hardman has the potential to become the best returner in the NFL, which Dave Toub believes is possible, it remains to be seen if it will come to fruition. After all, his skill set can be utilized a much more consistent basis on offense as his role continues to increase. It will only be a matter of time before he becomes too valuable to quarterback Patrick Mahomes to risk having on special teams.

It seems Dave Toub is well aware that the window for Hardman's time as a returner has already started to close.