The Kansas City Chiefs weren't the only team that targeted Mecole Hardman in the second-round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the New York Jets had discussed a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles that would have netted them the 57th overall pick, but the deal fell through when the Chiefs leapt in front of the Jets to take the speedy University of Georgia wide receiver at No. 56.
The Jets, meanwhile, were positioning themselves to trade into the second round for Hardman, according to sources. Gang Green, who didn’t have a second-round pick, specifically targeted and coveted the speedy 5-10, 187-pound wideout. They attempted to move up from No. 68 (in the third round) to the Eagles’ spot at No. 57.
Any potential Jets-Eagles deal died when the Chiefs leaped over both to get Hardman.
Kansas City traded the 61st pick and the 167th pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the 56th selection. According to Terez Paylor Yahoo Sports, the Chiefs knew they needed to be in position to draft Hardman before New York was on the clock.
Confirmed. I’m told the Chiefs were wary of the Jets, which is why they moved up to get Hardman. https://t.co/BHH9ba1uCg
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) April 29, 2019
Hardman, who a ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and is considered by some to be the most explosive athlete in the 2019 draft class, caught 35 passes for 453 yards and seven touchdowns last season, finishing second on the Bulldogs in all three categories. An All-State high school quarterback, he began his Georgia career at cornerback before switching to wide receiver in the spring of 2017.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, surely view Hardman as a potential replacement for star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who is likely to be released following an ongoing investigation into allegations of child abuse against his three-year-old son.
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