Yet with the regular season just around the corner, they've decided to release a veteran wide receiver who already has three Super Bowl rings: Mecole Hardman Jr. The move comes less than 48 hours after the Bills' preseason finale, a narrow 28-27 win over the Steelers on Thursday night. Hardman saw limited opportunities on offense in that game, finishing with just one catch for two yards.
But he started on special teams, returning two kickoffs for 50 yards and two punts for 21 yards — a role he was projected to carry into the 2026 season in Buffalo. Now he has less than two weeks to find a new home. More news: Browns’ Deshaun Watson Decision Looks Even Worse After Patriots Game The Bills' decision says less about Hardman and more about the depth elsewhere in the receiver room.
While Hardman could have been a valuable special-teams asset, that's exactly why the Bills signed veteran Dante Pettis, one of the NFL's top return threats. After Pettis, there just wasn't much room left for Hardman. DJ Moore was brought in to be Josh Allen's No. 1 receiver, and that connection has already blossomed.
Khalil Shakir remains one of the league's top slot weapons. Joshua Palmer, still signed to a three-year, $30 million deal, has reportedly looked good all camp. And the Bills clearly believe Keon Coleman has another level he can reach.
More news: Mike Vrabel Reveals Real Reason Behind Kayshon Boutte Trade More news: Jerry Jones Drops Eyebrow-Raising Comment on Cowboys’ Future But the real nail in the coffin for Hardman may have been fourth-round rookie Skyler Bell. In Thursday's preseason finale against Pittsburgh, Bell hauled in a game-high seven catches for 49 yards, including a 16-yard gain on his first career preseason catch from quarterback Shane Buechele. With that many names in the receiver room — and Pettis taking over on special teams — Hardman became the odd man out.
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