As the 3 PM deadline for final roster cuts creeps closer, the Green Bay Packers have already trimmed several names from the final 53-man unit. Among them, reports ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, is wide receiver Mecole Hardman, signed this offseason to a one-year deal. A 3-time Super Bowl Winner with the Chiefs, Hardman was brought in to provide gadget-receiver versatility and veteran leadership.
After an unflattering training camp, however, the Packers have decided to embrace the youth in the wide receiver room, choosing promise over experience. With only $150,000 guaranteed at signing, cutting Hardman was not a financially complicated decision, but it is a disappointing outcome to what was supposed to be a floor-raising offseason move.
Green Bay Packers choose youth over years in Hardman cut
For the final receiver spot, Hardman was competing primarily with third-year player Malik Heath, a former undrafted free agent who caught 25 passes in his first two seasons. Although Hardman is just 27 himself, Heath does have a couple of years on him and impressed in camp. Beset by injuries and inconsistency, the former has struggled to make an impact over the past three years.
Demovsky previously reported that Hardman’s roster status hinged on whether the Packers went with six or seven receivers; if six is the pick, it seems they have chosen Heath as the last man in.
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Also beating out Hardman, presumably, is third-rounder Savion Williams. He joins a Week 1 receiver room of Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, and Dontavyion Wicks. Recovering from knee surgery, Christian Watson will begin the year on the PUP list.
To be clear, Hardman’s release is no shocker at this point. Go back to the date of his signing, though, and it was hardly clear that he would lose out to the likes of Heath. Before summer camp, Hardman said he looked forward to battling Green Bay’s young receivers for depth-chart position. While he has lost that competition, perhaps his presence in camp helped keep competitive spirits high, pushing the youngsters to outperform the established veteran.
Among pass catchers, Demovksy reports, the Packers have also released receiver Isaiah Neyor, a 6-foot-4 senior out of Nebraska.
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