Over the 2021 offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have been quiet when it comes to adding stand-out talent to the wide receiver’s room. This is something many pundits still feel is a major miss by General Manager Brett Veach.
As veteran Sammy Watkins moves on with his new team in Baltimore, the stage is set for a young receiver, for a Jet, to spread his wings and take flight as the new second receiver the Chiefs are allegedly missing.
Mecole Hardman understands the time has come for him to step up his game now that Watkins is no longer in the building. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has also taken notice of the way the young wide receiver is maturing.
“With Mecole, I don’t know the best way [to put it],” he began. “The maturity of how he practices, and how he goes about his business is completely different. We’ve always seen the talent. We’ve always seen the speed [and] the way he’s able to make plays happen, but him being so comfortable with the offense and how we do things, I think it’s going to take his game to a new level,” he said.
Following Monday’s practices, Hardman responded to his quarterback’s remarks and told reporters his perspective.
“[It’s] my third year [since] coming into the league,” he noted. “[I’m] getting older and when you get older, comes maturity. So I think my mindset when I came in here was different than the past two years. So I guess [Mahomes] is just looking at somebody that’s eager to get down and [get] working and playing [and] trying to solidify himself on the field,” he explained.
When asked if he had to change his mindset now that Watkins is no longer in the locker room. Hardman pointed out that it wasn’t something that needed to be changed, but rather something that had to be adjusted.
“It’s kind of the same mindset,” he explained. “I wanted to come in and still do what I want to do and when I’m called on, perform at a high level. But now this year, it’s more like, ‘You can be that guy’ that you can go in there and you’re going to feel every play and you can do this and do that. So I think the mindset just shifted to, ‘I need to be the guy [who can] be on the field all the time [and one] that they can count on whether it’s third down, fourth down, or whatever it is.”
In order to become the receiver, the Chiefs need him to be, Hardman told reporters that he’s focused on improving every aspect of his game, rather than a particular part.
“Getting off the line, getting off the jam, and using my hands more,” he listed. “Routes are pretty good right now; I think I’m doing good on my routes. Catching the ball, being more aware of coverages… the whole thing. I want to get better at every aspect so when that time comes, it’s no question.”
When he was asked how camp has been so far, Hardman seemed pretty happy with his progress up to this point.
“Things have been going good,” he began. “I think I’m having a solid camp. [There’s] still a lot to improve on, which I’m trying to do each and every day. But another way I’m having a good solid camp [is that] things come easy; things are clicking.”
Hardman believes he’s ready to be the guy that can fill in for Sammy Watkins. However, if the Chiefs decide to use multiple receivers to play opposite Tyreek Hill, he says he’s ready for that as well.
“Sammy’s not here,” he said, “so there are a lot more snaps to go around to replace that. Somebody’s going to have to step up and fill in the role — whether it’s two of us, three of us, or however they want to do it,” he explained. “But I know that whenever they call my number, I’ll be ready.”
