In theory, both Isaiah Simmons and Mecole Hardman made sense for the Green Bay Packers as role players in 2025. In reality, neither will be helping Matt LaFleur’s team this year. Like Simmons, the Packers are releasing Hardman during final roster cutdowns on Tuesday, per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.
Hardman, a Super Bowl champion for the Kansas City Chiefs and former All-Pro returner, struggled to climb the depth chart at wide receiver and didn’t do enough as a pure returner to stick on the Packers’ first 53-man roster.
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During the preseason, Hardman caught three of eight targets for 30 yards. He dropped one pass and was 1-for-3 on contested catches. Hardman also carried once for 14 yards and returned four punts for 20 yards, with one muffed punt resulting in a turnover. He did not get an opportunity to return a kickoff.
Hardman, like Simmons, is a vested veteran. The Packers would have guaranteed his entire 2025 salary had he been on the roster in Week 1. Instead, the Packers will carry $150,000 in dead money on the salary cap as a result of Hardman’s signing bonus. In total, the Packers will have paid a little over $300,000 on the 2025 cap to get a look at the two veterans in training camp and preseason.
With Hardman released, the Packers could keep Malik Heath as the team’s sixth receiver until Christian Watson is ready to return.
It’s unclear who will be the Packers’ primary returners this season. Keisean Nixon has an All-Pro resume as a kickoff returner, and Jayden Reed has handled punt returns during each of his first two seasons.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers releasing veteran receiver Mecole Hardman during final roster cuts