Who Should I Start? Amari Cooper or Mecole Hardman

Saturday, May 3, 1:18 PM

Veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper is one of the top free agents still available after the NFL draft last week, and NFL.com's Kevin Patra suggests that reuniting with the Dallas Cowboys could be the best fit for him. The five-time Pro Bowler is coming off the worst year of his career in 2024 with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, combining for 44 catches, 547 yards and four touchdowns in 14 total games. He had just 297 yards and two TDs in eight regular-season games with the Bills and averaged just 6.8 yards per catch in three playoff games. The 30-year-old might not be a No. 1 wideout anymore, but he could still have value, and a return to the receiver-needy Cowboys could spark a resurgence. In addition to Dallas, Patra thinks the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets and Bills could be potential landing spots for the former first-rounder.

Tuesday, March 18, 9:06 PM

Free-agent wide receiver/return specialist Mecole Hardman (knee) is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Hardman will take his speed to the Packers while contributing both on offense and special teams as a kick returner. The 27-year-old former second-rounder (56th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 out of the University of Georgia caught only 12 of 14 targets for 90 yards and no touchdowns while carrying the ball five times for 62 yards and a touchdown in 12 regular-season games before suffering a knee injury in December that landed him on Injured Reserve. The Packers could use the receiver depth with Christian Watson (knee) likely to miss around half of the 2025 season, but Hardman could struggle for consistent involvement in Green Bay's offense, much like he did in KC, behind Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs.