NFC Contender May Make Surprising Super Bowl Signing

NFC contender the Dallas Cowboys may make a surprising Super Bowl signing with the addition of former Kansas City Chief wide receiver, Mecole Hardman. According to a source, the Cowboys still want to find a receiver before this upcoming season to sign the former Super Bowl champion. They were able to draft one in the sixth round of this year’s draft and bring in Zay Jones for a visit. However, Jones signed a contract with the Arizona Cardinals so this means his services are out of the question.

One Cowboys writer thinks Hardman or Hunter Renfrow is a fit for America’s team. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is another pass-catcher that’s still available but there hasn’t been any market for him or Hardman. If they’re still available, the Cowboys could bring in either one for a tryout and sign the free agent. However, the Georgia product may be the most prominent wideout this free agency.

There aren’t a lot of wide receivers in this year’s class, so the options are running thin for the Cowboys. Hardman may be a one-time Pro Bowler but he has a ton of success with the Chiefs, proving he’s a winner. He was originally drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. According to Pro Football Reference, it shows that he was an ideal “Swiss army knife” for the Chiefs.

He was able to notch 26 passes for 538 yards (20.7 yards per reception) and six touchdowns. This includes being a dangerous punt returner who returned a kickoff for a TD in 2018. However, his production hung around the same level but he was able to get more involved in the Chiefs’ offense over the following two seasons. Hardman was also the Super Hero for Kansas City’s third ring.

NFC Contender Dallas Cowboys May Make Surprising Super Bowl Signing

How Hardman Fits With Them

There have been rumors that the Cowboys could trade Brandin Cooks this offseason as the summer approaches. He’s the next best receiver on the roster behind CeeDee Lamb. It makes sense they may want to trade Cooks since they’re relatively low on their salary cap. If it happens, he’ll break the record for being the most-traded player in the league since 1980. It’s not a fun statistic for a receiver but if the Cowboys are looking to find a good replacement next to Lamb, Hardman is an option.

It would save the Cowboys $8 million against the 2024 salary cap if the move happens after June 1. This would open the opportunity for America’s team to sign either Hardman or Renfrow. However, it would be a deeper hole for the receiving corps which would leave Lamb as the only reliable receiver. This wouldn’t matter since the Cowboys were utilizing him either way more than anyone else other than Jake Ferguson.

Cooks and Hardman have the same skills so the only difference is the experience between the two. The Cowboys would probably be better off with Hardman as their WR2 with his build and speed over Cooks. He has that but isn’t a proven winner. Here are some other potential team fits for Hardman.

Team Fits for Hardman

There’s still a possible reunion for Hardman and the Chiefs since the two weren’t able to reach a new contract. The Rashee Rice situation isn’t getting any better so they need someone with familiarity and Hardman has a lot of that with the defending Super Bowl champions. However, if one team needs an experienced receiver, it’s the Chargers. They haven’t been able to get one since losing Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.

One final fit that would intrigue Hardman is playing for Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. They have two reliable receivers in Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman but adding one more exploding wideout could make them a Super Bowl-caliber team. They haven’t been able to add a new receiver since Odell Beckham Jr’s departure so Hardman’s experience makes sense for the team.