Who Should I Start? Mecole Hardman or Romeo Doubs

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, February 25, 9:18 PM

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that he doesn't think wide receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion) has any long-term concern with his head health despite the fact that he suffered multiple concussions in the second half of the 2024 season, including in the wild-card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. "Any time a guy has a couple concussions back-to-back, there's some concern there, not necessarily his long-term liability or anything, just for him," Gutekunst said. "I would expect him to bounce back and be at his best." The 24-year-old took a step back in 2024 in his third year in the NFL, but it didn't help that he played in only 13 regular-season games (12 starts). After going for 674 receiving yards and eight TDs in 2023, Doubs finished with a 46-601-4 line. With Christian Watson (knee) expected to miss at least half the 2025 season, Doubs should be in line for an expanded role if he's healthy.