Chiefs WR ready to break out
The Chiefs have the ultimate offense. They have the NFL’s best quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, who has an accurate rocket launcher for a right arm. They have a dominant wide receiver in Tyreek Hill and one of the best receiving tight ends ever in Travis Kelce.
Those three alone could lead an elite offensive attack, but Kansas City has another wide receiver who has all the talent to have a dominant sophomore season: Mecole Hardman and his 4.33 40yard dash speed.
WHERE HARDMAN IS GOOD
Like just about everyone on the Chiefs offense, Hardman is a threat to score a touchdown every time he touches the ball. Hardman averaged an insane 20.7 yards per catch last season and scored six touchdowns on just 26 catches. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy found the perfect way to utilize their speedy rookie receiver as they lit up defenses with ease throughout the season.
As Hardman’s role grows in the offense, it will be hard for him to keep up the same efficiency. It would be impossible for him to catch touchdown passes on 23% of his catches, but he can still use his speed to put the fear of God in defenses as his responsibilities expand.
What’s interesting about Hardman’s rookie season is that he was targeted more in the early portions of the season. 32 of Hardman’s 41 targets came in the first eight weeks of the season. He converted those 32 targets into 20 catches for 374 yards and four touchdowns. Not bad.
Hardman had a minor glute injury late in the season, but that doesn’t explain his dropoff in targets over the final eight weeks. Hardman’s first game with zero targets came when Patrick Mahomes missed the Chiefs’ Week 9 game against the Vikings and his production never really recovered. He did score two more touchdowns, a 63-yard catch against the Titans and a 48-yard catch against New England, but the consistency was gone.
Hardman had just nine targets over the second half of the season. That’s concerning. What he did with those nine targets should provide confidence for what he can do next season. Hardman caught six of those for 164 yards and the aforementioned two touchdowns. That’s 27.3 yards per catch and 18.2 yards per target.
His ability to create big plays is unquestionable. He even had a 104-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during that slump in which he wasn’t targeted much in the receiving game.
WHERE HARDMAN CAN IMPROVE
What Hardman can improve in 2020 is his route-running ability so he can become a more consistent option in the Chiefs’ passing game. He already has the blessing of truly elite speed, now he just needs to add refined skill.
Hardman averaged a whopping 47.8 yards per touchdown catch last season. Most of his catches came in situations where he was put in advantageous position to use his speed on the edges of defenses or deep down the middle on shot plays. He had a reception for a touchdown on a jet sweep play against the Packers, a wide-open touchdown deep against the Ravens and caught a deep post versus the Raiders for six.
Obviously, it’s great to have the speed to take advantage of these plays. It would be better if Hardman were a more skillful route runner to consistently create separation for himself. As a rookie, Hardman got a lot of use as a gadget player, but he has the athletic ability to take his game to the next level as a legitimate receiver.
The talent is clear with Hardman. Very few receivers can run as fast as him and the only ones that probably can are his teammates in Kansas City. For him to reach his full potential, he’ll have to grow his route-running repertoire.