A former New York Jets wide receiver has returned to the AFC East.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero shared on social media that wide receiver Mecole Hardman has signed a deal with the Buffalo Bills. Hardman will start on the Bills’ practice squad.
The Jets have swung and missed plenty on free agents in their history. Hardman is up there among the worst signings ever.
The former Georgia product signed a one-year contract with a maximum value of $6.5 million in March of 2023.
After spending the first four years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, Jets fans thought they were getting a poor man’s version of Tyreek Hill reincarnated in New York.
Safe to say that didn’t transpire.
Hardman Signing Was Among the Worst the Jets Have Ever Had
In 2023, he appeared in five games for the Jets, but he didn’t make a start. He was targeted three times and had one reception for six receiving yards. That was it.
Ahead of the NFL trade deadline, the Jets slapped a return-to-sender tag on Hardman, flipping him back to the Chiefs.
“The Chiefs are sending a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to the Jets for Hardman and a 2025 seventh-round pick,” ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter revealed at the time.
Hardman was accused of leaking the Jets’ offensive game plans to their opponents in the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles games, respectively, while he was still on the team.
During the 2024 offseason, Hardman appeared on “The Pivot” podcast and admitted that he “refused to return punts in a game and begged to be traded,” per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
“I’m telling you right now, I was so checked out, like, it was over with,” Hardman said on the podcast via Cimini. “I had already talked to [Chiefs GM Brett] Veach and Pat [Mahomes], like, ‘Come get me.’”
That sparked a conversation that the Chiefs tampered with Hardman ahead of the trade, which would be illegal.
To make matters worse for the Jets, Hardman ended up catching the game-winning touchdown pass that year for the Chiefs. He started the season on the Jets and ended it winning a world championship for another team.
The football Gods can be cruel.
Bills Backup Plan Was the Former Jets Pass Catcher
Buffalo tried to do better than Hardman.
Ahead of the Tuesday, November 4 NFL trade deadline, they made a blockbuster offer.
“I am told the Bills made a run at multiple big targets within the AFC East. [They offered] a first-round pick as part of a package to the [Miami] Dolphins for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. [Also] to the Jets for defensive lineman Quinnnen Williams. In fact, I am told that the Bills had the highest offer for Jaylen Waddle. Miami wanted a first-round pick in 2026, not in 2027,” NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero revealed.
The Bills’ offer also included a 2026 third-round pick on top of the first for Waddle, per Pelissero. However, the sticking point was a 2026 first versus a 2027 first. The two sides couldn’t get past that, so no deal.
Now Buffalo ends up with Hardman.
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