The Green Bay Packers have signed free agent wide receiver and return specialist Mecole Hardman to a one-year deal, multiple sources reported on Tuesday night.
Hardman, who turned 27 on March 12, played for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. He recorded 12 receptions for 90 yards, five carries for 62 yards and a touchdown in 12 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice in early December. He also returned 20 punts and five kickoffs.
A three-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City, Hardman has accumulated 178 catches for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in 80 career games (28 starts) since being drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed with the New York Jets at the start of the 2023 season but was traded back to the Chiefs that October.
Hardman capped the 2023 season with a 3-yard touchdown catch in overtime to help win Super Bowl 58.
On Tuesday, the Packers also announced the signing of former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks, 27.
Reports last week indicated the deal is worth $77 million over four years. Banks has started 43 of 53 games during his four seasons in the NFL. He served as the 49ers’ starting left guard for the past three years.
A second-round pick in 2021 from Notre Dame, Banks started 16 games in 2022, 14 of 15 games in 2023, and 13 games in 2024. He missed four of the last six games of 2024 due to a concussion and a knee injury.
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