The Green Bay Packers have finally signed a wide receiver.
No, they didn't show interest in signing Davante Adams or trading for DK Metcalf, and they (thankfully) missed out on Cooper Kupp. But the Packers have added to their wide receiver corps.
Just not how anybody imagined. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Packers are signing Mecole Hardman.
It's fair to say it's not the move Packers fans were waiting for.
Packers make surprising move to sign free-agent wide receiver Mecole Hardman
OK, let's focus on the positives first. The Packers may have found their replacement for Keisean Nixon in the return game. After all, Nixon made it clear he had no interest in continuing in that role.
Hardman is an experienced kick returner and scored on a 104-yard return in his rookie season. Last season, he averaged 23.8 yards per return.
Hardman also adds speed to the offense, which the Packers will sorely miss with Christian Watson recovering from a torn ACL.
Here's the problem: Hardman can only add speed to the Packers' offense if he's actually on the field. The former second-round pick played only 10 percent of the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive snaps last season, catching 12 passes for 90 yards.
In 2023, Hardman failed to land a role in the New York Jets' offense before being traded back to the Chiefs, where he still barely played.
Is it a special teams only move for the Packers?
That's fine, but who does he replace on the roster? Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks are roster locks. Watson, too, once he's back. Does Bo Melton miss out? Malik Heath? Do the Packers just keep all of them and make an additional spot for Hardman?
What if they plan to draft a wide receiver?
It just doesn't make much sense. Perhaps the Packers have a plan to get Hardman involved on offense, but the Chiefs and Jets couldn't find a regular role for him. He can undoubtedly help on special teams, which is a positive, but the Packers will need to find room on the roster.
Packers fans hoped the team would make a blockbuster move for Adams or Metcalf or spend big to upgrade the pass rush. Instead, they overpaid an average guard and signed a solid starting cornerback who has struggled to stay healthy. There's still a lot of work to do.
But, hey, at least they signed a wide receiver.