Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman popped up in the news again ahead of Week 8, and this time, he was linked to the bitter rival Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders held a slew of tryouts on October 21, according to ESPN beat reporter Ryan McFadden. Hardman was among the five names listed by the NFL transaction log, which McFadden shared on X.
Over five and a half seasons with the Chiefs, Hardman accumulated over 2,500 receiving yards and 23 total touchdowns, including playoff impact. His best campaign as an offensive playmaker came in 2021, when he caught 59 passes for 693 yards and 2 TDs.
The 27-year-old veteran and former second-team All-Pro returner wasn’t the only ex-Chief within the group, however, as the Raiders also took a look at undrafted rookie WR Hal Presley — who was with Kansas City this summer before briefly spending time on their practice squad.
Hardman and Presley were joined by running back Israel Abanikanda, guard Layden Robinson, and fellow wide receiver D.J. Turner.
Neither Hardman nor Presley has signed with Las Vegas at this time, despite receiving an opportunity from their front office. Instead, the Raiders have initially agreed to terms with Turner and Robinson.
Raiders Tryout Mecole Hardman Has Failed to Recapture His Production Away From Chiefs
Hardman has struggled to hold a job away from the Chiefs. The first time he left in free agency, the speedster signed a contract with the New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Unfortunately, Rodgers immediately tore his Achilles tendon that season, and things quickly fell apart for Hardman in New York.
Hardman’s Jets tenure was so poor that he only ended up with 1 catch for 6 yards. Before long, he was traded back to KC.
That initial experiment away from the Chiefs came in 2023, and Hardman’s midseason return actually led to one final contract in Kansas City in 2024. This time, it ended in an IR stint.
In 2025, Hardman received interest from a few teams in free agency before signing with the Green Bay Packers. Obviously, the NFC debut didn’t last long as the veteran is a free agent once again.
Most of the tryouts and roles Hardman gets these days are as a returner, although he does still have more offensive experience than most return men. It’s currently unclear why exactly the Raiders gave him a call in Week 8.
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