The Kansas City Chiefs lost wide receiver and return specialist Mecole Hardman to the Green Bay Packers, and they could turn to current free agent Devin Duvernay to fill his void. While Hardman never played up to his second-round draft capital, the longtime Chief made a name for himself as a returner who could make a few plays at wide receiver when necessary. Serving as the team’s primary punt returner, the Georgia product finished the 2024 season with 20 punt returns for 203 yards and five kick returns for 132 yards. Additionally, he added another 12 receptions for 90 yards in the receiving game as the Chiefs struggled to find reliable wide receivers throughout the season.

Devin Duvernay spent the 2024 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he is best known for his time with the Baltimore Ravens. A former third-round pick, Duvernay had his moments as a receiver but became one of the league’s most dangerous returners early in his career. The Texas product earned First-Team All-Pro honors for his work as a returner in 2021 and made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022. While he’s never recaptured that level of dominance, he can still compete for a role on special teams.

Chiefs Could Sign Free Agent Devin Duvernay After Losing Mecole Hardman

As mentioned earlier, Hardman’s biggest contribution to the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs came on special teams. While he was the team’s primary punt returner, he wasn’t the only one to handle that responsibility. Fellow wide receiver in name only Nikko Remigio appeared in five games Hardman missed due to injury, returning 11 punts for 103 yards and a team-high 11 kicks for 295 yards. His return average in both categories fell in line with Hardman’s averages, so perhaps the team believes he can handle full-time responsibilities in 2025.

Perhaps Remigio can win the job in 2025, but anyone who has watched Skyy Moore or Kadarius Toney return punts knows you must have a Plan B for the position. Devin Duvernay spent the 2024 season as Jacksonville’s primary punt returner, and while the free agent couldn’t match his Ravens success, he’s still a competent option who can provide some base-level security as a special teams ace. Of course, this isn’t the only reason to add Duvernay into the mix, as his receiving ability could be useful if injuries strike.

Receiving Game Replacements

Devin Duvernay and Nikko Remigio are both wide receivers who should spend most of their time on special teams, but injuries happen in the NFL. The Chiefs retained Marquise Brown but lost DeAndre Hopkins and might lose Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy for parts of the upcoming season. If that happens, one of these players could be forced into action, and Duvernay is more likely to succeed in an emergency role.

While Devin Duvernay finished the 2024 season with just 11 receptions for 79 yards, the free agent used to be a key depth piece of the Ravens passing attack. In 2022, he recorded a respectable 37 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns. Remigio, by comparison, has just two receptions for 48 yards to his name and his college production doesn’t suggest there’s any sort of untapped potential here.

Devin Duvernay shouldn’t break the bank as a free agent, which means the Chiefs can sign him with minimal salary cap implications. With Hardman gone, these two could battle for the primary returner job throughout the offseason.

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