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Tyreek Hill's status amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of child abuse against he and his fiancée remain uncertain. Even if the Kansas City Chiefs knew their star wide receiver and punt returner would be with the team going forward, though, they would certainly still prioritize speed and all-around athleticism while adding additional playmakers to the fold.
Enter Mecole Hardman, the Chiefs' second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He wasn't the most well-known draft prospect, but NFL.com's comparison for the University of Georgia product, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett, makes it easy to imagine the role he will play with Kansas City – whether Hill is on the roster or not.
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Like Lockett, Hardman is a diminutive receiver with elite deep speed, rare burst, and sudden quick-twitch athleticism. There are legitimate questions whether Hardman will develop into a viable four-down receiver despite his innate playmaking abilities. Lockett, after bursting onto the scene as a rookie with 51 catches for 664 yards and six touchdowns, failed to exceed or even match those numbers in his second and third seasons in the league, but beat them last season when he caught 57 passes for 965 yards and 10 scores, all easy career-highs.
That level of production is a realistic one for Mecole Hardman to reach. A quarterback in high school, he was initially a cornerback with the Bulldogs before switching to receiver just two seasons ago. His best days catching passes are ahead of him. In the meantime, the Chiefs, at the very least, can count on Hardman making big plays in both the passing and return game while providing an imminent threat to defenses – just like Seattle did with Lockett as a rookie.
