NFL teams have to make numerous difficult roster decisions ahead of the start of the 2025 season. Over 1,000 players are cut ahead of the NFL’s roster deadline, which will be on Aug. 27.
Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Mecole Hardman is one of the many NFL players on the roster bubble. Hardman still has good speed and is now with the Green Bay Packers, who have a deep, receiving room that lacks top-end talent.
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Hardman had a tough preseason debut with Green Bay. He muffed a punt and dropped a pass on his only target in the Packers’ 30-10 loss to the New York Jets in preseason Week 1. After this performance, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport highlights Hardman as a player on the Packers that should be cut.
“Hardman has never come especially close to living up to his draft slot (as a second-round pick),” said Davenport. “And on a Packers team loaded with young talent at wide receiver, he has no margin to make the sort of errors he made in his Green Bay debut.”
Fortunately for Hardman, he’ll have another opportunity to prove himself in preseason Week 2 as the Packers play the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. ET. Hardman’s speed and versatility as a return man give him a decent chance to make the Packers, but his production has significantly declined in recent seasons.
Hardman caught the Kansas City Chiefs’ game-winning touchdown in overtime of Super Bowl 58. He hasn’t caught another receiving touchdown since then. Last season, he posted 12 receptions for 90 yards and five rushes for 62 yards and one rushing touchdown with the Chiefs. He also added 20 punt returns for 203 yards and five kickoff returns for 132 yards in 12 games played.
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Former Georgia WR Mecole Hardman on Packers’ roster bubble