Subscribe
Follow Us
With Tyreek Hill likely to be released, the Kansas City Chiefs added some speed with their first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. After the first round came and went without the Chiefs making a selection, they took Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman with the No. 56 overall pick.
We have selected WR Mecole Hardman with the #56 overall pick!#ChiefsKingdom | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/89mKQP71Ml
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 27, 2019
Kansas City traded the 60th overall pick and a fifth-round choice to the Los Angeles Rams in order to move up four spots and grab Hardman.
A four-year starter at quarterback in high school, Hardman began his Georgia career at cornerback before being moved to wide receiver two years ago. After establishing himself as a legitimate weapon in the Bulldogs' passing attack as a sophomore, he caught 35 passes for 543 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018, finishing second on the team in all three categories. Hardman was also named Second-Team All-Sec as a junior for his work in the return game.
Article Continues Below
Georgia coach Kirby Smart believes that Hardman's developing comfort at a new position making him an especially intriguing prospect.
“I usually bring it up pretty quick,” he said of Hardman's background, per 247 Sports' Jake Rowe. “To me, it’s an important thing to understand that here’s a guy that only caught snaps in high school, then only caught interceptions as a freshman and then he spends two years catching the ball and he’s done a really good job doing that.”
Hardman obviously still needs to learn the finer points of playing receiver before reaching his potential. But given his 4.33 speed in the 40-yard dash and solid collegiate production, it's clear he has the talent to be a true impact player at the next level. Whether Hardman has what it takes to fill the shoes of Hill, though, remains to be seen.
