Mecole Hardman is a career quality starter β a receiver whose body of work places Hardman in the top half of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Hardman's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.
Mecole Hardman
1Γ Pro BowlTop 29% all-time WRsHigh-End Starterπ Fades Β· -19% playoffsβ°οΈ Mountain Arc Β· 2021Two-Way Profile
Height5'10"
Weight187 lb
BornMar 12, 1998
Age28
CollegeGeorgiaSee College Stats
ConferenceSoutheastern
Rookie yr2019
Draft2019 Β· Rd 2, Pick 56 Β· KC
All-Time Rank & Honors
career ranks, postseason ranks, awards, title contextPostseason all-time ranks
1x
Pro Bowls
A quality wide receiver with a top 30% among starters β a legitimate starter who contributed meaningfully across their career.
Career Value Β· VORP
VORP 36 Β· #2468 Β· Role PlayerWorth 36 points of value above a freely-available replacement receiver β top 54% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 4 of 6 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +9 on average.See board β
Seasons above replacement
4 cleared
2 replaced
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it β adds 0, never a debit
48
Replacement
the KC-H bar
β
4
Seasons over
cleared the bar
Γ
+9
Avg surplus
peak +14
4 seasons Γ ~9 surplus β VORP 36
Combined Season Grid
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at onceβno tab hopping.
4 grids split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Receiving | Rushing | Defense | Snap Counts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D | Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | TD% | 1D | 1D% | Fmb | Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% | |||||
| 2019 | β | KC | 15 | β | 41 | 26 | 538 | 6 | 63.4% | 20.7 | 13.1 | β | 18 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 25.0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 471 | 44.5% | β | 0.0% | 122 | 28.9% |
| 2020 | β | KC | 16 | β | 62 | 41 | 560 | 4 | 66.1% | 13.7 | 9.0 | β | 23 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 7.8 | 0.0 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 499 | 46.1% | β | 0.0% | 167 | 37.3% |
| 2020 | β | MIA | 1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2021 | β | KC | 17 | β | 83 | 59 | 693 | 2 | 71.1% | 11.7 | 8.3 | β | 33 | 8 | 46 | 0 | 5.8 | 0.0 | 2 | 25.0 | 1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 623 | 51.6% | β | 0.0% | 42 | 10.7% |
| 2021 | β | TEN | 2 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2022 | β | KC | 8 | β | 34 | 25 | 297 | 4 | 73.5% | 11.9 | 8.7 | β | 14 | 4 | 31 | 2 | 7.8 | 50.0 | 3 | 75.0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 303 | 53.3% | β | 0.0% | 10 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | β | KC | 7 | β | 24 | 15 | 124 | 0 | 62.5% | 8.3 | 5.2 | β | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 153 | 25.5% | β | 0.0% | 32 | 22.0% |
| 2023 | β | LAC | 1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2024 | β | KC | 7 | β | 14 | 12 | 90 | 0 | 85.7% | 7.5 | 6.4 | β | 6 | 5 | 62 | 1 | 12.4 | 20.0 | 2 | 40.0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 115 | 15.0% | β | 0.0% | 73 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | β | BUF | 1 | β | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | β | 0.0 | β | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 4 | 7.0% | β | 0.0% | 9 | 15.5% |
| Career | β | 75 | β | 259 | 178 | 2,302 | 16 | 68.7% | 12.9 | 8.9 | β | 102 | 26 | 190 | 3 | 7.3 | 11.5 | 10 | 38.5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 2,168 | 34.7% | β | 0.0% | 455 | 21.0% | |
Career EPA115.5Β·6 rushing Β· 109 receivingΒ·19.2/season
Rushing
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | TD% | 1D | 1D% | Fmb | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21 | KC | 15 | 0* | 4 | 17 | 0 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 25.0 | 0 | 9.9 |
| 2020 | 22 | KC | 16 | 0* | 4 | 31 | 0 | 7.8 | 0.0 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 9.1 |
| 2021 | 23 | KC | 17 | 9* | 8 | 46 | 0 | 5.8 | 0.0 | 2 | 25.0 | 1 | 9.6 |
| 2022 | 24 | KC | 8 | 4* | 4 | 31 | 2 | 7.8 | 50.0 | 3 | 75.0 | 0 | 6.6 |
| 2023 | 25 | KC | 7 | 0* | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2.6 |
| 2024 | 26 | KC | 7 | 0* | 5 | 62 | 1 | 12.4 | 20.0 | 2 | 40.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | 70 | 13* | 26 | 190 | 3 | 7.3 | β | 10 | β | 1 | 39.8 |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Receiving
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21 | KC | 15 | 0* | 41 | 26 | 538 | 6 | 63.4% | 20.7 | 13.1 | β | 18 |
| 2020 | 22 | KC | 16 | 0* | 62 | 41 | 560 | 4 | 66.1% | 13.7 | 9.0 | β | 23 |
| 2021 | 23 | KC | 17 | 9* | 83 | 59 | 693 | 2 | 71.1% | 11.7 | 8.3 | β | 33 |
| 2022 | 24 | KC | 8 | 4* | 34 | 25 | 297 | 4 | 73.5% | 11.9 | 8.7 | β | 14 |
| 2023 | 25 | KC | 7 | 0* | 24 | 15 | 124 | 0 | 62.5% | 8.3 | 5.2 | β | 8 |
| 2024 | 26 | KC | 7 | 0* | 14 | 12 | 90 | 0 | 85.7% | 7.5 | 6.4 | β | 6 |
| 2025 | 27 | BUF | 1 | β | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | β | 0.0 | β | 0 |
| Career | 71 | 13* | 259 | 178 | 2,302 | 16 | 68.7% | 12.9 | 8.9 | β | 102 |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Defense
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 22 | MIA | 1 | 0* | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 23 | TEN | 2 | 2* | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 25 | LAC | 1 | 0* | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 4 | 2* | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | β | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Snap Counts
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21 | KC | 16 | 0* | 471 | 44.5% | β | 0.0% | 122 | 28.9% |
| 2020 | 22 | KC | 16 | 0* | 499 | 46.1% | β | 0.0% | 167 | 37.3% |
| 2021 | 23 | KC | 17 | 9* | 623 | 51.6% | β | 0.0% | 42 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 24 | KC | 8 | 4* | 303 | 53.3% | β | 0.0% | 10 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 25 | KC | 11 | 0* | 153 | 25.5% | β | 0.0% | 32 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 26 | KC | 12 | 0* | 115 | 15.0% | β | 0.0% | 73 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 27 | BUF | 2 | β | 4 | 7.0% | β | 0.0% | 9 | 15.5% |
| Career | 82 | 13* | 2,168 | β | β | β | 455 | β |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced (EPA)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Pass EPA | Rush EPA | Rec EPA | Pass AirYd | Rec AirYd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21 | β | β | 0* | β | -0.1 | 36.9 | 0 | 453 |
| 2020 | 22 | β | β | 0* | β | 0.7 | 30.6 | 0 | 660 |
| 2021 | 23 | β | β | 9* | β | -1.6 | 18.0 | 0 | 612 |
| 2022 | 24 | β | β | 4* | β | 2.0 | 18.6 | 0 | 275 |
| 2023 | 25 | β | β | 0* | β | -0.4 | 0.7 | 0 | 137 |
| 2024 | 26 | β | β | 0* | β | 5.7 | 4.3 | 0 | -14 |
| Career | 13* | β | β | β | 0 | 2,123 |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced Rushing (2018+)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | YBC | YBC/Att | YAC | YAC/Att | BrkTkl | Att/Br | 1D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21 | KC | 16 | 0* | 16 | 4.0 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 | β | 1 |
| 2020 | 22 | KC | 16 | 0* | 12 | 3.0 | 19 | 4.8 | 0 | β | 2 |
| 2021 | 23 | KC | 17 | 9* | 39 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.9 | 0 | β | 2 |
| 2022 | 24 | KC | 8 | 4* | 27 | 6.8 | 4 | 1.0 | 1 | 4.0 | 3 |
| 2023 | 25 | 2TM | 11 | 0* | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | β | 0 |
| 2024 | 26 | KC | 12 | 0* | 45 | 9.0 | 17 | 3.4 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 |
| Career | 80 | 13* | 142 | β | 48 | β | 3 | β | 10 |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced Receiving (2018+)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | ADOT | YBC/R | YAC/R | BrkTkl | Drops | Drop% | 1D | TgtRate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21 | KC | 16 | 0* | 11.0 | 9.5 | 11.2 | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 18 | 146.6 |
| 2020 | 22 | KC | 16 | 0* | 10.6 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 2 | 8 | 0.1 | 23 | 116.3 |
| 2021 | 23 | KC | 17 | 9* | 7.4 | 3.2 | 8.5 | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 33 | 99.1 |
| 2022 | 24 | KC | 8 | 4* | 8.1 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 14 | 139.0 |
| 2023 | 25 | 2TM | 11 | 0* | 5.7 | 1.1 | 7.2 | 3 | 3 | 0.1 | 8 | 41.0 |
| 2024 | 26 | KC | 12 | 0* | -1.0 | -0.8 | 8.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 93.5 |
| 2025 | 27 | BUF | 2 | β | 46.0 | β | β | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| Career | 82 | 13* | β | β | β | 15 | 15 | β | 102 | β |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
KV-H Anatomy
KV-H 56 Β· Strong StarterA strong starter career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 56 of 100, era-normalized against rec yds/g peers across 6 scored seasons.
53
Sustained
career value
Γ.6
59
Peak
best 3 seasons
Γ.4
Γ1
Longevity
career length
Blend 55.4 Γ longevity 1 = KV-H 56Β· confidence 96%
What builds the career mark of 53
On-field 37.1
Availability 15.9
On-field production Staying available
Season-by-season quality (era-relative rec yds/g)
2019bestavg 492024
All-Time Standing
how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position14
Depth
of 100
Reached 11% of the all-time Receptions leader β a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
11% of the all-time Receptions leader11
0 categories β₯25% of the all-time leader0
19.24 EPA/season over 6 seasons56
A 0β100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data β career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence β so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite β₯ 85 Β· Strong β₯ 65 Β· Solid β₯ 45 Β· Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 92%.
Per-Snap Impact
Wide Receivers Β· proprietary Β· 2012+61
Above average
SIS
Yards/snap1.149Touch rate0.131EPA/snap0.053Snap share34.7%Off snaps2,168ConsistentCV 0.15
Production per snap β the box score normalized by opportunity. SIS is z-scored within wide receivers, shrinkage-regularized so small samples don't spike, over the NFL snap-count era (2012+).
Career Aging Trajectory
vs. position group average Β· KV-H basisAmber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average wide receivers aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
Combine Β· 2019
Percentiles compare each raw measurement against position peers, the full combine pool, and the same draft class where enough samples exist.
4.33s
40-Yard
Elite Β· 95th pct
Pos 95thAll 99thClass Pos 88thClass All 98th
36.5"
Vertical
Above avg Β· 58th pct
Pos 58thAll 77thClass Pos 34thClass All 73th
119"
Broad Jump
Below avg Β· 30th pct
Pos 30thAll 60thClass Pos 34thClass All 61th
17 reps
Bench
Above avg Β· 72th pct
Pos 72thAll 27thClass Pos 74thClass All 31th
Playoff vs Regular Season
π Regular Season Player
Yards / Reception: 12.9 regular season β 10.4 playoffs (6 playoff seasons)
-19%
vs reg season
Postseason Career
14 playoff gamesRushing
Att13Yds105TD1Y/A8.1TD%7.71D41D%30.8
Receiving
Tgt40Rec28Yds292TD4Ctch%70.0%Y/R10.4Y/Tgt7.31D14
Defense
Tkl1Solo1
Advanced (EPA)
Rush EPA-5.0Rec EPA2.2Rec AirYd242
College Rushing
College Receiving
Reference Graph
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters β every name is linked.
Top Teammates
Travis KelceTE6yJames WinchesterLS6yChris JonesDL6yHarrison ButkerK6yDerrick NnadiNT6yPatrick MahomesQB6yNick AllegrettiG5yMichael DannaLB5yTershawn WhartonDE5yJoe ThuneyG4yMike PennelDT4yFrank ClarkLB4yAndrew WylieG4yTommy TownsendP4yJuan ThornhillSAF4yBlake BellTE4yWillie Gay Jr.LB4yCreed HumphreyC4yNoah GrayTE4yTrey SmithG4yKhalen SaundersDT4yNick BoltonLB4yL'Jarius SneedSAF4yRashad FentonCB4y
2019 Draft ClassΒ· this player went #56
Franchise Succession
the room, before and afterMecole inherited the Kansas City Chiefs WR room from Byron Pringle (2019β2021), and handed it to Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2022β2023).
Similar Players
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0β100%).
Movementderived from season history
- 2025team change
Joined BUF (from KC)
- 2025final season
Last recorded season with BUF
- 2019draft
Drafted by KC β Round 2, Pick 56
Athletic & Unique Profile
verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts5'10" / 187 lb
Frame
187 lb at 4.33s
Size-speed
36.5" vert / 119" broad
Explosion
17 reps
Bench power
Injury History
4 career games missed (Out)From nflverse weekly injury reports Β· coverage begins 2009.
| Season | Team | Games Out | Designations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | KC | 1 | W5QuestionableΒ· KneeW14QuestionableΒ· KneeW18OutΒ· KneeW20DoubtfulΒ· Knee |
| 2023 | KC | 2 | W12OutΒ· ThumbW16OutΒ· ThumbW17QuestionableΒ· Thumb |
| 2022 | KC | 1 | W10OutΒ· AbdomenW18QuestionableΒ· PelvisW20OutΒ· PelvisW21QuestionableΒ· Pelvis |
Knox
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works β
Historical Knox Β· KV-H
Era-normalized career quality β z-scored against 6-season peers. See all β
56
peak 59
Season Report CardsΒ· KV-H era-normalized per season
C+2019
C+2020
B2021
C+2022
D2023
D2024
Availability
Career durability β games played vs. scheduled, across 7 seasons.
70%
Era Translator
Rec Yds translated to the 2025NFL β each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Rec Yds | Rec Yds/G | β 2025 Rec Yds | β 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 538 | 35.9 | 509-29 | 29.9 |
| 2020 | 560 | 35 | 491-69 | 28.9 |
| 2021 | 693 | 40.8 | 619-74 | 36.4 |
| 2022 | 297 | 37.1 | 559+262 | 32.9 |
| 2023 | 124 | 17.7 | 240+116 | 14.1 |
| 2024 | 90 | 12.9 | 184+94 | 10.8 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:snap_counts, nflverse:combine, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), nflverse:injuries, wikipedia:college-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only) Β· multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle Β· updated 6/18/2026
Career Value Β· VORP
36 career value over replacement β #2468 all-time of 4,642. 6/season above a replacement-level WR.
Draft OutcomeValue β
Pick #56 (Rd 2) Β· KC Β· 2019 Β· +9.1 vs expected KV-H
56actual
46.9 expected Β· Ξ+9.1
Fan Rating
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