No Hard Feelings from Hardman after Jets' Trade

Back with Chiefs, slot receiver addresses oddly short tenure with Gang Green

Author:
Ralph Ventre
Publish date:
Oct 19, 2023 5:04 PM EDT

In this story:

Mecole Hardman played only 28 offensive snaps in a New York Jets uniform before being sent back to the team that drafted him.

Freshly traded from the Jets to the Kansas City Chiefs, the speedy slot receiver spoke to reporters on Thursday and briefly reflected on his unexpectedly brief Green & White tenure.

"I don't know [why it didn't work out]. Aaron [Rodgers] kinda went down and then from, there everybody was in the air with a lot of things. Honestly, I really don't know. I guess that's just behind us now," said Hardman.

After playing his first four NFL seasons in Kansas City, the 2019 second-round draft pick inked a one-year deal with Gang Green this past March.

"I kinda liked the Jets' organization and what they were doing. They had a great defense at the time. With Garrett Wilson over there, I wanted the chance to play alongside him," said Hardman, who claims that the Cleveland Browns were one of a handful of teams he explored during the free agency process.

For one reason or another, Hardman never really had the chance to line up on the field with Wilson. He participated in less than 10 percent of the offense's snaps and totaled one six-yard catch in five appearances.

When it became evident that Hardman wasn't fitting into the Jets' plans, trade speculation began to swirl and it only increased when the receiver was a healthy scratch in Week 5.

"I seen it online like they were exploring options, I guess. After that, I kinda got why my agents and they said 'yea, there's some talk that they could possibly trade you.' Then, we were just waiting for the inevitable," said Hardman.

The 25-year-old Hardman appears to leave Florham Park on good terms with a number of Jets' teammates. Cornerback D.J. Reed and defensive end John Franklin-Myers were amongst those Gang Green players who sent well wishes to Hardman on the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

Reed's message encouraged Hardman to "go ball brother" while Franklin-Myers's post featured the words "all love."

"I got a lot of respect for those coaches and the coaching staff. I don't think I did anything wrong, but things just didn't work out. They were supposed to work out, but now I'm here [back in Kansas City]," said Hardman.

With Hardman no longer in the fold, the Jets' receiving corps consists of Wilson, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Irvin Charles along with undrafted rookies Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee.