Packers confirm suspicion about veteran receiver on cutdown day, a move that reveals their true plans for the position
Mecole Hardman is gone.
The Green Bay Packers have some tough calls to make on cutdown day. The first one was to release linebacker Isaiah Simmons. The second has been made too, and the team is releasing veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who had signed with the Packers back in March, according to Jordan Schultz.
Hardman was competing with Malik Heath for the sixth wide receiver spot. However, the three-time Super Bowl champion never developed a real offensive role. He added some value as a returner, but he was behind Keisean Nixon for kickoffs and Jayden Reed for punts, limiting what he could do on the roster.
Financial repercussions
Mecole Hardman had signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Packers. He had up to $500k available via incentives based on playing time and touchdowns. With Green Bay’s decision to release him, there will be $150k in dead money, the signing bonus amount.
Depth
The Packers have five locks at wide receiver to make the 53-man roster: Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Savion Williams. Christian Watson is expected to start the regular season on the physically unable to perform list (PUP). Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, Will Sheppard, and Isaiah Neyor have already been waived.
Presumably, Malik Heath is the favorite to grab the sixth spot, if there will be one.
Mecole Hardman had been the biggest veteran addition amongst skill position players for the Packers this offseason, but his contract always indicated it would be a competition for a roster spot. And based on what Hardman did in the preseason, including a muffed punt, the value wasn’t there.
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