Bears Free Agency Preview: Mecole Hardman could be big-play weapon Bears offense needs

The Chicago Bears must do whatever it takes to help QB Justin Fields this offseason. That objective begins on March 13, when the free agency negotiation period begins. And you can bet GM Ryan Poles will focus his early attention on the offensive line and wide receiver.

Unfortunately for the Bears, the wide receivers available in free agency this year are an underwhelming group. But there is one who offers exciting field-flipping traits and whose best football may still be in front of him: Kanas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman.

Hardman (5-10, 187 pounds) dazzled at the 2019 NFL Combine when he clocked a 4.33 40-yard dash. He was considered a fringe-first-rounder that year but fell to the 24th pick of Round 2, where the Chiefs made him their selection.

Hardman’s career with Kansas City has been underwhelming. His best season came in 2021, when he finished with 59 catches for 693 yards and two touchdowns. Through four years as a Chief, Hardman’s totaled 151 catches for 2,088 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Mecole Hardman will enter free agency with some lingering injury concerns. He was limited to just eight games in 2022 because of a core muscle injury that required surgery in February to repair. While he’s expected to be 100% healthy in 2023, teams will want a clean medical for a player whose game relies on speed and explosive movements.

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Chicago Bears fans may be underwhelmed if Poles targets Hardman as his wide receiver upgrade. And it’d be a fair initial reaction. But Hardman is only 24 years old and was stuck behind Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill for most of his career with the Chiefs. He never had a chance to emerge beyond the third target — at best — in Kansas City’s passing game.

If signed by the Bears, Hardman would have a chance to emerge as one of Justin Fields” primary reads. Hardman’s career-high targets came in 2021 when Mahomes looked his way 83 times. More than 60 players — receivers, tight ends, and even running backs — had more than 83 targets in 2022.

Mecole Hardman is far from a superstar wide receiver. But he does have rare speed, he’s young, and with a greater target share, he could be a surprisingly effective playmaker for the Chicago Bears.

Hardman won’t come cheap. Spotrac has his market value at four years, $41.5 million. It’s a lot to pay for a wide receiver who’s never had 700 yards in any season of his career, but the Bears would be betting on his upside. And at this point, with this free-agent class, that’s probably the best they can do.