Draft rumors: Pats reportedly linked to Georgia WR Mecole Hardman
Georgia slot receiver Mecole Hardman has repeatedly been mentioned as a potential New England Patriots 2019 NFL Draft target.
The closer one gets to the NFL Draft, the more difficult it becomes to distinguish legitimate news stories from misinformation and team smokescreens meant to throw off opponents. Still, when several reports and rumors link the same prospect to the same team, it becomes difficult to tune out the noise and look the other way.
Such is the case with the New England Patriots and University of Georgia slot receiver Mecole Hardman. The Pats are rumored to be “eyeing” Hardman as a potential draft selection, according to one report that cites multiple other reports and various sources with knowledge of the situation, one of whom is ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
A pairing between Hardman and the Patriots would theoretically make a lot of sense. Though Super Bowl 53 MVP Julian Edelman often lines up in the slot during offensive formations, it’s not uncommon for the veteran receiver to move to other locations on plays, especially in Josh McDaniels’ creative schemes.
Similarly, Hardman possesses the kind of versatility and ability that could make him a matchup nightmare out of the slot or on the outside as well, depending on how quickly he could pick up the New England playbook and wide receiver route trees, of course. The Patriots’ offense is renowned for its complexity, and as several news outlets have previously pointed out, it’s often difficult for even the most elite offensive prospects to find immediate success in New England.
Besides his value as a receiver playing in one of the toughest collegiate conferences in Division I sports, Hardman also improved his draft stock by serving as the Bulldogs’ return specialist during his college career. He returned 35 kickoffs for 875 yards at Georgia, and had an additional 592 yards and a touchdown returning 39 punts.
Next. Julian Edelman really wants Zion Williamson to join Pats. dark
His selection by the Patriots could allow Edelman to focus exclusively on being the Patriots’ No. 1 wide receiver and Tom Brady’s most trusted option. New England has previously experimented with Edelman as a return specialist, along with former players like Danny Amendola and Cyrus Jones in recent years.
If Hardman is indeed drafted by the Patriots, he will join fellow UGA alums Sony Michel and Isaiah Wynn on the squad. Michel and Wynn were both first-round draft picks of the Pats last year, although Wynn missed the entire regular season with an Achilles injury.