Bears host free agent WR Mecole Hardman for visit

Denny Medley - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 3 hours ago

As reported earlier in the day on Monday, the Chicago Bears continue to focus on the offensive side of the ball as they look to acquire as much offensive talent as possible. Chicago reportedly worked out former second-round pick Rondale Moore in the hopes of him performing well enough to earn a contract, but that is just the first of two players the Bears hosted for workouts.

The second of those was two-time Superbowl champion wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who, too, was in Chicago for a workout on Monday. Unlike Moore, who would instantly become the team's No. 3 wide receiver option, Hardman is more of a special teams threat who can fill in at wide receiver from time to time. Essentially, he is considered a No. 4 or No. 5 option no matter where he lands, but he has shown the ability to make plays when called upon.

The 27-year-old is no stranger to NFL success, as he played a massive role in several of the Chiefs' Super Bowl titles. He also has previous ties to Ryan Poles, so you have to wonder if that is one of the reasons why Hardman was brought in for a workout. A 2019 draft pick out of the University of Georgia, Hardman has been around the league for a while now and has seen action in 80 games.

Most of those came during two separate stints with the Chiefs, but he also appeared in five games with the New York Jets before being traded back to Kansas City. Taken 56th overall during his draft class, Hardman was a late second-round pick and was expected to play a massive role in that offense.

While that may never have happened, Hardman was still a valuable piece to a highly successful offense and gave the Chiefs a lift when they needed it the most. Hardman has logged 2302 career receiving yards with 16 touchdowns, including a career-best 693 yards in 2021, as that is his potential as a player.

Along with a 400 yard average perseason, Hardman also can play a role in the running game as he has logged 190 career yards on the ground and 10 additional scores. Throw in his ability to return punts and kicks, and Hardman is about as valuable of a weapon as you can have, and he could be lethal if used properly in the Bears system.

Hearing Hardman's name linked to the Bears may not be as far-fetched as one would think. The Bears tried to land him in 2023 prior to his signing with the Jets. Although nothing has been official apart from his workout, it would be nice if the Bears were able to get a deal done this time around, as they have a rare opportunity to land him this offseason.

While there are no reports on whether the workout went well or not, if the Bears like what they saw from him, it wouldn't surprise anyone if they offered him a one—or two-year deal. Adding him to an already stacked and improving offense could be huge, as Ben Johnson would be given a new toy to play with.

Even if he isn't seen as a true wide receiver option that Caleb Williams can trust from one play to the next, he can fill a variety of roles on the offense and can be moved around a lot. Whether he lines up in the slot, on the outside, or in the backfield, having him on the field forces defenses to account for him, which does open other things up.

You also have to consider his special teams experience. Hardman has logged 89 punt returns and 45 kick returns, and you have to wonder if the Bears would consider using him in that role. Either way, Poles is going to continue to monitor the free agent market, even if the first wave of free agency is over.

Yes, the team made significant noise during the first wave, but it's what this team can do during waves two and three that could set their roster apart. Adding a player like Hardman isn't going to take this team over the top, but he's an interesting piece to have, especially when you consider what he can bring to the table on offense and special teams.