Who Should I Start? Mecole Hardman or Jamal Agnew

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.

Thursday, March 20, 5:28 PM

The Atlanta Falcons agreed to terms with former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/kick returner Jamal Agnew on Thursday on a one-year deal worth a maximum of $2.5 million, a source tells NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Agnew spent last year on the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad as he recovered from a broken leg that he suffered late in the 2023 season, but he's now fully healthy. The 29-year-old former fifth-rounder (165th overall) by the Detroit Lions in 2017 out of the University of San Diego was a Pro Bowl returner in 2022 with the Jaguars, but he's unlikely to move the needle much on offense in Atlanta, where he'll serve as receiving depth behind Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III, among others. Agnew was more involved on offense in his three years in Duval, but he still had only 61 catches for 641 yards and five touchdowns on 90 targets from 2021-23.