Reports: Packers signing veteran WR/KR Mecole Hardman

The Green Bay Packers are signing free agent wide receiver and return specialist Mecole Hardman to a one-year contract, multiple outlets reported on Tuesday night.

Hardman, who turned 27 on March 12, played for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. He had 12 catches for 90 yards as well as five rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown in 12 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury at practice in early December. He also returned 20 punts and five kickoffs.

A three-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City, Hardman has 178 receptions for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in 80 career games (28 starts) since being picked by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed as a free agent with the New York Jets to start the 2023 season before being traded back to the Chiefs that October.

He ended the 2023 season with a 3-yard touchdown catch in overtime to win Super Bowl 58.

Also on Tuesday, the Packers officially announced the signing of former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks, 27.

The deal is reportedly for $77 million over four years, according to reports last week. Banks has started 43 of 53 games played in four NFL seasons. He was San Francisco's starting left guard the past three seasons.

A second-round pick in 2021 out of Notre Dame, Banks started 16 games in 2022, 14 of 15 games in 2023 and 13 games last season. He missed four of the last six games in 2024 -- two because of a concussion and two due to a knee injury.

--Field Level Media