Who Should I Start? Mecole Hardman or James Proche

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.

Wednesday, March 26, 10:50 PM

The Tennessee Titans announced on Wednesday that they signed free-agent wide receiver James Proche II to an undisclosed deal. Proche will head to the AFC South after spending the last two seasons playing for the Cleveland Browns, where he had only three receptions on eight targets for 21 yards and no touchdowns in 19 games played (one start). The 28-year-old former sixth-round pick (201st overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 out of SMU has mostly specialized as a kick returner on special teams in his career, returning 68 punts for 591 yards and four kickoffs for 60 yards in his five NFL seasons. Expect Proche to compete for kick-return duties in Tennessee this summer in training camp. In 62 total games played, Proche has 28 receptions for 299 yards and no touchdowns on 48 targets on offense, so he won't suddenly become fantasy relevant in Tennessee.