By the time the wild card game against the Eagles was done, Love and the Packers realized that walking in the shoes of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers was no easy task. Yes, the Eagles looked in command with a 10-0 at halftime, but these are the situations that his illustrious predecessors dug their team out of when they were throwing the ball around. However, Love’s passing accuracy deserted him when he needed it the most as he threw three interceptions. Toward the end of the game, he was desperately trying to get the Packers’ “stagnant” offense going, playing with Bo Melton and Malik Heath as the only receivers. One thing was clear after the defeat, the Packers needed to get Love some help in the offseason.

Even after a rough night against the Eagles Matt LaFleur doubled down on his belief in the young QB. “I think he is an ascending player that is going to get better and better and better.”  Love’s 41.5 passer rating was the worst in Packers playoff history for a quarterback with 20-plus passing attempts. Yet, LaFleur remained unshaken. Love is the guy. No debate. But belief only goes so far in the NFL. LaFleur’s plan for Love? Get him some speed.

You can have all the faith in the world, but if your quarterback doesn’t have the right weapons? Good luck. So, what did the Packers do? They went out and got him a burner.

On Thursday, the Packers GM Brian Gutekunst announced the signing of Mecole Hardman on a one-year deal. The former Chiefs wideout is packing three Super Bowl rings and a résumé built on pure speed. You just need to revisit the 2021 AFC Championship Game against Buffalo for any proof of this. Hardman rushed for 50 yards in the second quarter to break Priest Holmes’ franchise record for longest postseason carry from scrimmage of 48 yards set in 2004.

Hardman’s not just a gadget guy—he’s a legit deep threat, and for a QB like Love, who’s still developing his game, that’s gold. So how does he help the Packers?

With Christian Watson sidelined for at least the early part of the 2025 season, the Packers must find a way to replace his deep speed and ability to win against man coverage and that is what Hardman will offer. He has the ability to stretch the field, something that the LaFleur’s team will need for Love to excel.

Compared to Green Bay’s wide current receivers he has the strongest track record against man coverage. His career PFF grade of 72.33 versus man is significantly higher than Romeo Doubs’ 65.2, Dontayvion Wicks’ 63.9, and Jayden Reed’s 57.7. But there is more Hardman than speed and being a solid receiver.

He is a reliable kick returner, something that the Packers can use. Reed has been the Packers’ main punt returner since he was drafted in 2023 but has failed to thrive. He ranked 33rd out of 42 qualified punt returners at PFF in 2023, and 42nd out of 43 last season. Having served as the Chiefs’ primary returner during his tenure with the team, Hardman returned both a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns and averaged a rank of around 13th in the four seasons he returned enough punts to qualify.

As a punt returner he had 203 punt return yards in 12 games last year and had 132 yards on five kickoff returns. Green Bay is indeed getting an upgrade in that regard.

A five-star recruit from Georgia, he impressed scouts with 4.33 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, leading to the Chiefs picking him 59th overall in the 2019 draft. After four years in KC, during which he won two Super Bowls, he landed with the Jets, expected to be part of Aaron Rodgers’ new-look offense. But then Rodgers’ Achilles snapped five minutes into the season, and Hardman barely saw the field.

Five games. One catch. Frustrated, he asked for a trade, and Patrick Mahomes welcomed him back to KC like an old friend. “Mecole, I know how talented he is,” Mahomes said. “He could have let [the Jets situation] hurt his career, but he didn’t.”

In October 2023,  the Jets traded Hardman and a seventh-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft to the Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round selection in 2025. The timing was perfect as the Chiefs were making a charge to defend their title.

When the Super Bowl (SB LVIII) rolled around, Hardman wasn’t just another guy—he was the guy. He broke free in overtime and scored the game-winning touchdown, sealing another championship for the Chiefs. “He’s always ready for the moment,” Mahomes said after the win. That’s exactly the kind of player Green Bay needs—a guy who doesn’t flinch when the lights are brightest.

Welcome to the squad, Mecole!

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 20, 2025

However, there are some things that need to be taken into consideration. His final season in Kansas City (2024) ended on injured reserve following a Week 13 knee injury. He hasn’t caught a regular-season touchdown since 2022, and his career highs include six touchdown receptions (2019) and 693 receiving yards (2021). While his stats—178 catches, 2,302 yards, and 16 touchdowns over five seasons—may not be eye-popping, they don’t tell the full story.

He is still a reliable asset and while his signing may not be spectacular, he has a chance to be a real weapon for Love. No longer buried behind All-Pro targets, he will fit in well with the plans of special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. The Packers didn’t just add a receiver—they added a playmaker who can turn quick throws into chunk gains and stretch defenses deep. If Love is going to keep ascending, he’ll need guys who can help him get there and the Packers are just doing what it takes to help him build.

Packers want to help Matt LaFleur

Brian Gutekunst had two big takeaways after the Packers’ playoff exit. One, they need more urgency. Two, free agency isn’t always the answer. “We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” he said. Sounds great, right? Except urgency usually means action. And after an initial splash—signing Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs—Green Bay has gone quiet. Meanwhile, the rest of the NFC North isn’t waiting around.

The Lions upgraded their secondary and defensive line. The Vikings reinforced both trenches and took their shot at a franchise quarterback. The Bears? They went full throttle, stacking talent on both sides of the ball. Chicago might be the most improved team in football. Green Bay? They’re banking on development. They believe in Jordan Love. They believe in Matt LaFleur. But belief alone doesn’t win games.

Meanwhile, that’s where the frustration creeps in. If “it’s time we started competing for championships,” as Gutekunst put it, then why does this offseason feel more like running in place? Love doesn’t have a peak Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, or even prime Randall Cobb to lean on. Mecole Hardman is a nice addition, but he’s not the answer. If Love is going to take the next step, shouldn’t the Packers be doing more to help him?

Gutekunst defended his approach. “Our process won’t change,” he said at the Combine. That’s all well and good, but if the process keeps leading to the same playoff heartbreak, maybe it should change. There’s value in patience. There’s also value in seizing the moment. The NFL isn’t about slow burns—it’s about stacking enough talent to win in January.

Look, ten wins and a playoff spot might be fine for some teams. (Looking at you, Chicago.) But this is Green Bay. This is Titletown. And right now, the Lombardi Trophy feels just as far away as it did when the Packers were getting run over by the Eagles, Lions, and Vikings last season. So, where’s that urgency again?