Mecole Hardman is entering just his fourth NFL season, but he has the most experience of the receivers in the Chiefs offense.
Now Hardman is looking to blaze his own trail, especially since he’s being counted on to help replace Tyreek Hill.
“I don’t feel no pressure,” Hardman said at mandatory minicamp. “I just think it’s one of those things. It’s like a next-man-up mentality. And pressure-wise, I think it’s just me having to step up and be a better overall player than I’ve been the last three years.
“But I don’t feel no pressure. It’s more me taking the initiative to be better than I have been. That’s everything from blocking, to releasing, to catching the ball, to getting open, everything and all the above.”
Last season Hardman caught a career-high 59 passes for 693 yards and two touchdowns. And though his 11.7 yards per catch average was the lowest of his career, Hardman is expecting big things for this season.
“I know I’m a threat any time I touch the ball,” he said. “So if they want to give it to me short range, or if they want to get it to me quick, it don’t matter. If it’s downfield, as long as I can touch the ball and make plays I’m fine.”
Hardman’s role will likely increase this season even with the additions of free agents Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie wide receiver Skyy Moore.
Hardman also said he plans to be more vocal given the fact that the Chiefs basically revamped their receiving room following the Hill trade.
“I just tell them come here, let’s play ball and do what we need to do,” Hardman said. “Let’s learn the plays, let’s learn each other and build this chemistry and build a bond that we need so when we go out there on game day we know we can depend on each other.”
During the offseason program, Hardman missed time during OTAs but came back in time for minicamp. And though Hardman wasn’t on the field as much as he would’ve liked, he still impressed Chiefs coach Andy Reid.
“Mecole has upped his game,” Reid said. “And our young kid Skyy getting mixed in there has been good. So I like the mixture that we’ve got going.”
The Chiefs will resume practice when they report for training camp on July 27 in St. Joe, Mo. And Hardman said while many of the faces are different, the offense won’t miss a beat with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce leading the way.
“I think we’re going to be explosive,” Hardman said. “I think we’re going to be a great offense. We still got the best quarterback in the NFL, best tight end in the NFL. So we’re going to lean on those guys and we’re going to depend on them, and we know they’re going to come to play every Sunday.
“And with the new guys, I think they’re adjusting very well. They’ve learned the plays. They’ve learned the playbook. They’re learning how we play here and the standard that we have here. So I think we’re going to be just fine.”
