Mecole Hardman wasn't the wide receiver Green Bay Packers fans wanted the team to sign this offseason, but he might be the one they needed.
To steal a phrase from Cody Rhodes, Hardman has gone from undesirable to undeniable.
Despite signing a one-year deal with the Packers in free agency, Hardman is hardly a roster lock. The Packers cranked up the competition by snapping their first-round wide receiver drought to select Matthew Golden before following it with third-round addition Savion Williams.
That hasn't stopped Hardman from making an impact on the practice field.
He dropped the mic on one minicamp practice by catching a 70-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love. And it's not the only statement he made to conclude a practice. We'll let Mike Spofford of Packers.com talk us through this highlight-reel moment.
"The 5-10, 187-pound Hardman, signed by Green Bay in late March, concluded Tuesday's workout in the two-minute drill by leaping amidst a crowd of bodies in the end zone to haul in, one-handed, Sean Clifford's desperation toss for a touchdown," Spofford writes.
Mecole Hardman couldn't have made a better start to life with the Packers
Competition is nothing new for Hardman, who is the Packers' oldest and most experienced wide receiver on the roster. The offseason program is officially in the books, but the Super Bowl winner has helped his chances of not just making the 53, but contributing this season.
He must continue to build momentum to push his way to a roster spot. The Packers' wide receiver room is as crowded as ever. Rookies Golden and Williams join Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks, and let's not forget about Christian Watson, who will return at some point from a torn ACL.
The competition is so fierce that Bo Melton is playing approximately 17 positions just to increase his chances of making the roster (slight exaggeration).
In a best-case scenario, Hardman can become a game-changing returner for the Packers while also being used regularly as a creative piece on offense. Third-round pick Savion Williams is perhaps Hardman's biggest competition for both roles, having entered the league with Cordarrelle Patterson comparisons.
Hardman is doing all he can to ensure his stay in Green Bay goes beyond training camp. His arrival may not have excited fans at the time, but he is on track to becoming an undeniable addition to the Packers' roster.