Over the course of the 2019 NFL Draft, Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman had drawn a few on-field comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs speedster Tyreek Hill. Now it looks like Hardman may be replacing Hill on the NFL level.

Hill has gotten himself into quite a bit of trouble stemming back to his time at Oklahoma State in college. Then audio tapes this week came out where Hill threatened the mother of his child and detailed how their child’s arm got broken. A criminal case has been reopened on Hill after the release of the audio tapes. Hill has also been suspended by the Chiefs.

As for what this means for the Georgia wide receiver, Hardman could have an opportunity to step into Hill very prolific role with the Chiefs. Kansas City took Hardman with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday night. And a number of NFL media types are already connecting the dots between Hardman and Hill.

Hardman ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine this year which really helped his draft status. Hardman is still relatively new to the wide receiver position, as he did not begin playing the position on a full-time basis until his sophomore year at Georgia.

As a junior, Hardman finished with 34 catches for 532 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also averaged 20 yards per punt return last season as well.

Last season, Hill hauled in 87 passes for 1,479 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He earned All-Pro honors for the Chiefs. He also benefitted from playing with NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. Hardman will now certainly get to do the same this coming season.

A number of ESPN NFL experts also weighed in on the possibility of Hardman as a direct replacement for Hill with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mel Kiper Jr.: “The writing is on the wall here…He’s a major threat to take the top off the defense, he is a big play waiting to happen.”

Todd McShay: “He’s going to be another weapon for Pat Mahomes, on short throws he can create some things He can get vertical.”

Trey Wingo: “It’s pretty clear that they need Mecole Hardman with what we think is going to happen with Tyreek Hilll, who of course has been suspended indefinitely from all football operations by the Chiefs.”

Adam Schefter: “Tyreek’s football future is in danger, and that may be the least of his problems because he could be facing potential criminal charges.”

Hardman is the second Bulldog to be taken in the draft. Cornerback Deandre Baker was taken with the No. 30 overall pick by the New York Giants in the first round. Fellow Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley is also expected to be taken on Friday night, though Ridley’s name will have to be called in the third round for that to be the case.

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