Hardy enters 2026 as a roster long-shot in New Orleans, rostered in essentially zero leagues and going undrafted across formats. At 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds out of NC State, he fits the classic blocking-first body type teams stash at the back of a depth chart, and there is no established production or projected workload to build a case around. Until he carves out snaps, he is a name to monitor rather than a player to target.

The path forward is purely about opportunity. With no measurable receiving role, no draft capital invested in him as a fantasy asset, and a logjam ahead of him on the tight end depth chart, any value would have to come from injuries or a training-camp surprise. For now he belongs on deep dynasty watch lists only, and redraft managers can comfortably leave him on the wire.