Kansas City Chiefs sign wide receiver Mecole Hardman to one-year deal

The Kansas City Chiefs are keeping wide receiver Mecole Hardman around for at least one more season after signing him to a new deal Thursday. The former Georgia Bulldogs star is signing a new one-year deal, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.

Hardman became a free agent in March when his one-year deal expired. Now, he officially knows where he’ll play the 2024 season, his sixth in the league.

Drafted by the Chiefs in the 2019 NFL Draft, Hardman began his career in Kansas City. He played five seasons for them and won two Super Bowl rings before signing with the Jets as a first-time free agent. His 2023 season with New York took a dramatic turn after starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles tear in Week 1. The team traded him to Kansas City, along with a 2025 seventh-round selection, in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round selection.

His last contract was for one season and it was worth $4 million. The details of his new one-year deal are still private.

Hardman’s return to Kansas City last season came at a very opportune time. He closed out the year playing six regular-season games for the Chiefs, tallying 14 catches for 118 yards. The real benefit came, however, in the postseason. He ended up catching the winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, helping lift the team over the 49ers in overtime. He finished the championship game with three receptions for 57 yards and the touchdown.

The former Bulldogs receiver has 116 catches, 2,212 yards and 16 touchdowns in 68 regular season games played over the first five seasons of his career. He has another 27 catches, 228 yards and two touchdowns in postseason appearances.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marked the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marked the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hit.