Bills to release three-time Super Bowl champion WR amid roster cutdowns

The Buffalo Bills are heading into the 2026 NFL season with a new number one wide receiver, as they acquired DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears.

Josh Allen will be throwing to Moore, Khalil Shakir, and Keon Coleman as the top WRs on the roster. The depth chart isn't terrible either, as Joshua Palmer is a solid No. 4 option, and rookie Skyler Bell isn't a bad fifth option either.

But one player not slated to be a part of the 53-man roster for the Bills is, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, three-time Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman Jr., who is being released by the Bills this August.

Bills to release Mecole Hardman amid roster cutdowns

"The Bills are releasing veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr., per source," Fowler reported Saturday morning.

Hardman was slated to be the No. 6 WR on the depth chart for the Bills. But now, he's going to hit the open market with a chance to land with a new team, though he could come back on the practice squad for the Bills.

The 28-year-old former three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs has 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in his NFL career.

He was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season, but not for his receiving work. He was a great returner, returning 27 kickoffs for 704 yards, including one touchdown on a 104-yard return.

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This roster move from the Bills shouldn't come as a huge surprise, as Hardman wasn't likely to see much involvement in the offense this year.

His best chance to make the roster was proving to be a decent deep threat this preseason who can also thrive in the return game.

But he didn't do much on offense this preseason. He carried the ball twice for 31 yards and caught four passes for 20 yards and a touchdown, without a significant special teams impact.

This move from the Bills comes as they construct their 53-man roster. The front office likely viewed Hardman as expendable, and his release should clear a roster spot for help at another position on the initial 53-man roster for Buffalo.

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