The Kansas City Chiefs used their first pick in the NFL Draft to take Mecole Hardman. This is obviously a pick to replace Tyreek Hill.
The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for life without dynamic wide receiver Tyreek Hill. It’s not a big surprise. A child abuse criminal case against him and his fiancee has been reopened after KCTV aired audio allegedly from Hill threatening his fiancee and talking about the allegations in question.
With that background, the Chiefs selected Mecole Hardman out of the University of Georgia with a second-round pick, and their first selection of this year’s draft.
From a football standpoint, Hardman is very similar to Hill in terms of traits. Hardman ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He was used in many facets with Georgia, working as both a receiver and a returner on special teams.
Hardman has some issues to smooth out as a receiver, and needs some development, but who better to look over that development than Andy Reid? Hardman should fight for playing time with Demarcus Robinson, working behind Sammy Watkins. With Hill suspended indefinitely by the team, it stands to reason that he may not be with the team much longer.
The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes throwing the football. They need a guy who needs to keep defenses honest. With Hill all but gone from this team, Hardman will take the role of either catching balls underneath and getting a ton of yards after the reception, or just running past everyone and letting Mahomes find him.
This pick proves that the Chiefs know what the right thing to do is. It’s time to move on from Hill well before the criminal case takes its course. The time to do it is now.