Twenty-four hours earlier, the Chiefs needed distance between themselves and the debacle that Tyreek Hill's tenure there had become. They insisted early Friday, hours after the NFL Draft's first round had ended, that they weren't aware of how badly the Hill story had turned until later. By Day 2 of the draft, they had felt the brunt of it.
By the time Day 2 ended, the Chiefs had put him at more than arm’s length — by suddenly drafting the player who's all but set in stone to be Hill's replacement.
They had gone into the draft not knowing they’d need one. They ended the night knowing Hill had to be written out of their picture, even more than they had in hastily serving up that indefinite suspension, for what that’s worth in the middle of voluntary offseason workouts. They weren’t due to make a pick in the overall draft until late in the second round anyway … and then they traded up five spots with the Rams, to 56th overall.
To get a wide receiver. A small, fast one who was dangerous in the passing and return games.
NFL DRAFT: Picks, analysis and grades for Rounds 2 and 3
Georgia’s Mecole Hardman was the choice, a highly regarded receiver but not one necessarily expected to go that early. (Sporting News had him at No. 99 on its Top 100 Big Board, and as the 14th-best wide receiver left after Day 1, when just two receivers were taken.)
Conversely, the position wasn’t listed that high as a predraft need for the Chiefs, not as high as multiple positions on defense where they were undergoing an overhaul. Their other two Day 2 picks were defensive players.
Said head coach Andy Reid after the choice, according to ESPN.com: "This is somebody (general manager Brett Veach) had his eye on from the get-go. It doesn't have anything to do with things going on right now."
The Chiefs' offense wasn’t beyond tweaking, but relatively speaking, what MVP Patrick Mahomes had to work with was just fine. Still, that was all before the notorious audio surfaced Thursday and the investigation into Hill was reopened.
Now, the predraft analyses seemed more convincing — and prescient, as it turned out. From Lance Zierlein on NFL.com: "Hardman could develop into a lesser version of Tyreek Hill with his playmaking potential after the catch, on deep balls and as a returner. Speed kills in today's game and Hardman's could be coveted on Day 2 (Rounds 2 and 3).’’
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The comparisons in size (both are listed at 5-10, with Hardman weighing two pounds more than Hill’s 185) and skill (Hardman ran a 4.33 40 at the Combine and likely would have made his initial NFL impact on returns) have only accelerated after he was drafted.
They won't decelerate anytime soon, because long after Hill's almost-certain departure, he'll be a topic of conversation around the franchise. Whether the internal or external pressure grows for Hardman to immediately step right into Hill's role remains to be seen.
But the argument that, on the field, Hill couldn't be replaced and would keep skewing the franchise’s judgment became moot the moment the Chiefs called Hardman's name.
The clock was already ticking on Hill's Chiefs career. The second hand started spinning faster Friday night.
