The Green Bay Packers could have quite the battle going on at receiver. With the draft additions of Matthew Golden and Savion Williams joining the group already comprised of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, the room has began to look somewhat crowded.
Whilst many have speculated that Doubs could be on the move, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report suggests that the team should consider moving on from a different wideout.
Former Kansas City Chiefs receiver, Mecole Hardman, joined the organization back in march, and was expected to take over the Packers’ returning duties, now that the former executor of the role, Keisean Nixon, is moving into the undisputed CB1 slot.
However, Hardman did not have a strong preseason debut for Green Bay filling either returner or receiver role, leading to Davenport suggesting he could end up on the chopping board for the team come final cuts at the end of the month.
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“Based on his performance in Green Bay’s preseason opener, though,” Davenport wrote on Thursday, “Hardman could start the 2025 season looking for work.”
Admittedly, the ex Chief had a good response to his bad outing, via Davenport, suggesting that he was not going to let his bad start get the better of him.
“After a performance that included a key drop and a muffed punt, the 27-year-old told reporters he wasn’t going to let one shaky outing rattle him.
“It’s short-term memory,” he said. “Windshield wipers. You’ve got to clear out the fog and come in this week with a better mindset. A better mentality of going out there and getting better.””
Yet, as the publication notes, with the competition at WR and the other options in the return game – like Reed, or falling back on Nixon. Nixon, who despite his previous objections is now more open to contributing in on special teams in his old role that landed him All-Pro nods in 2022 and 2023.
“But Hardman has never come especially close to living up to his draft slot.” Davenport concluded. “And on a Packers team loaded with young talent at wide receiver, he has no margin to make the sort of errors he made in his Green Bay debut.”
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Considering that Christian Watson will likely start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, there will be an extra spot available for grabs – but Hardman will have to go up against long-time Packer, Malik Heath, for that privilege .
Even with Watson out, Green Bay has a number of different starting combinations they can enact on offense – some of which may even include two tight end sets, as they aim to utilize more of former second round pick, Luke Musgrave, who missed 10 games last season.
Perhaps the only question – beyond any injury – is whether any member of the group can step up to the plate to become the clear leader of the receiving pack.
