Mecole Hardman 2019 Outlook
As USA Today's Doug Farrar noted, the Chiefs have not made an official decision on the future of Tyreek Hill, who was suspended from all team activities as authorities gather evidence in a child abuse case against him. The day of Hill's suspension, the Chiefs traded up to take Hardman in the 2019 draft. Make no mistake, trading up into the second round to get Hardman was the most definitive statement regarding Hill's future the Chiefs have made to date. Hardman, who has none of Hill's off-field issues, is a speed receiver with the same kind of potential. According to Farrar, there was no other player in this draft that the Chiefs could have selected who could come closer to cloning what Hill was out of college -- and what he could be in the pros. HC Andy Reid, who had DeSean Jackson as his primary speed receiver in Philadelphia from 2008 through 2012 and has coached Hill for the past three seasons, saw no problem with putting Hardman in that same group. "He's got that same explosive power. Desean was probably a little bit further along than Tyreek was at the position; [Hardman] is probably closer to where Tyreek was coming out," Reid said. When projecting Hardman into Reid's offense, it's all about fit and Hardman could be well-positioned to make an immediate contribution as Patrick Mahomes’ deep threat (depending on the ultimate outcome with Hill).
