Detroit Lions 2019 NFL Draft: Golden Tate replacements
Day Three: Mecole Hardman, Wide Receiver, Georgia
Mecole Hardman has been Georgia’s best wide receiver so far this year. He started off the year on a torrid streak, but has since cooled. But that doesn’t discount that he has been their biggest threat through the air all year.
Hardman has shown impressive traits this year, most notably his vertical speed and ability to create yards after the catch. He does have some limitations to his game, mainly his size; as he stands at only five foot ten inches, weighing 185 pounds.
The Draft Network’s John Ledyard wrote this about Hardman’s positive traits.
"“Can run by off coverage with ease and tracks the ball well over his shoulder … Showed good burst out of his break and the ability to finish along the sideline … Overall athleticism is impressive, short-area burst matches the long speed, and his hops are said to be eye-popping”."
This sounds like the type of player I’d be just fine with drafting sometime on day three of the draft.
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This year at Georgia, through eight games, Hardman has accrued 26 receptions for 368 yards, and four touchdowns. His most impressive game to date was this year against South Carolina when he put up 103 yards on six receptions, adding a touchdown. On the touchdown he caught a quick pass from Jake Fromm, Georgia’s quarterback, and took off down the sideline for 42 yards going basically untouched.
While Hardman has his deficiencies as a wide receiver he has elite burst and speed that can rival almost anyone. He is the type of receiver that would be perfect spending a day three pick on as a flier. His potential is high, and the risk is rather limited considering it would only cost a day three pick to acquire him.
Next. Detroit Lions all-time wide receivers in the ‘Tecmo Bowl’ era. dark
All three of these wide receivers each has their pros and cons. If I were to pick one based on their abilities and potential cost to draft, I’d have to go with Marquise Brown. He wouldn’t cost a first rounder to get and arguably has the highest potential of the three. While I would prefer Marquise Brown to both A.J. Brown and Mecole Hardman, I would be excited to see any of these three suited up in a Detroit Lions uniform.