Overview
- The Bills released Mecole Hardman Jr. on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, as they completed final roster cuts ahead of the regular season.
- Hardman is a 2019 second-round pick who won three Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs and had brief stops with the Jets before joining Buffalo in 2025.
- He played sparingly for Buffalo in 2025 but did catch a 4-yard touchdown in the Bills’ AFC divisional loss to Denver and appeared in the 2026 preseason finale while fighting for a spot.
- Reporting and team analysis cited competition for the punt-return job from Ray Davis and strong preseason showings from Trent Sherfield as key factors in Buffalo’s decision.
- Hardman is now a free agent available to other NFL teams while the Bills move forward with a 53-man roster that balances wide receiver depth and special-teams needs as they prepare for Week 1.