The Green Bay Packers are signing receiver and returner Mecole Hardman to a one-year deal, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

Hardman, 27, was a second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 draft. He won three Super Bowls as a member of the Chiefs and was a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler as a return specialist in 2019. Hardman is probably best known for catching the game-winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes in the Chiefs’ overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

A dynamic athlete with game-breaking speed, Hardman could provide the Packers with slot or gadget weapon on offense while also competing to return both punts and kicks on special teams. Despite his elite speed, Hardman (5-10, 187) has not been a game-breaking deep threat during his NFL career. Since 2022, Hardman has just five catches on passes thrown 20 or more yards in the air.

He is an experienced returner. Over 80 career games, Hardman has returned 89 punts for 819 yards and one touchdown and 45 kickoffs for 1,073 yards and one touchdown.

Hardman caught 126 passes for 1,791 yards and 12 touchdowns during his first three NFL seasons, but he hasn’t had a season with more than 25 catches over the past three years. In 2024, Hardman caught 12 passes for only 90 yards for the Chiefs — operating almost solely as a gadget weapon. In fact, his average depth of target was behind the line of scrimmage last season.

Hardman ended last season on injured reserve after injuring his knee in December.

Signing Hardman should help raise the competition level at receiver and returner but should not prevent the Packers from making a splash at receiver in the 2025 NFL draft.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers signing receiver and returner Mecole Hardman to one-year deal