Who Should I Start? Mecole Hardman or Jimmy Horn Jr.

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.

Tuesday, June 3, 3:26 PM

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (hamstring) is not practicing during this week's OTAs as he works through a hamstring injury, according to team reporter David Newton. While catching passes from Shedeur Sanders over the last two seasons at Colorado, Horn hauled in 95 receptions for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns in 23 games. He was a sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it would be somewhat of a surprise if he's on the fantasy football radar in Year 1. Assuming he can get healthy and make the 53-man roster, he figures to begin his career behind Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Adam Thilen, David Moore, Jalen Coker, and potentially more wideouts on the depth chart.