The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs chosen security Jaden Hicks within the fourth spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. Hicks will be a part of the Chiefs from Washington State, the place he was a two-year starter and earned quite a few accolades in his brief stint in Pullman.
Hicks will be a part of a Chiefs secondary that was considered the most effective within the NFL in the course of the 2023 season and performed a significant position within the Chiefs profitable the Tremendous Bowl. The Chiefs traded away star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and in addition noticed the departure of Mike Edwards within the offseason, so there will probably be possibilities for Hicks to search out the sphere in 2024.
Justin Reid and Bryan Cook dinner will each be the beginning safeties in 2024, however Hicks can have an opportunity to be taught from each gamers and carve out a task on the group.
Evaluating Hicks
In Kansas Metropolis, Hicks will doubtless line up because the group’s free security, and as a consequence of his talent set, he additionally might be the group’s third security in Nickel and Dime seems to be.
Hicks was a stable athletic performer on the NFL Mix and his professional day, testing properly in almost each class aside from the shuttle run.
At 6’0” and 211 lbs., Hicks has nice measurement and weight for the place, in addition to the power to run a reputable 4.5-second 40-yard sprint. This greater than suits the factors wanted to play security within the NFL, however one space of Hick’s testing that does present up on his movie is the shortage of means to easily change instructions in area.
Towards smaller, faster slot gamers, Hicks struggled at occasions to maintain up or re-direct himself after defending in opposition to a fast reduce or break. What Hicks does convey to the desk is powerful tackling and a flexible talent set that may enable him to line up in a number of spots throughout Steve Spagnuolo’s protection.
A take a look at the movie
Hicks lined up contained in the deal with field fairly a bit throughout his time at Washington State, and this gave him the power to roam the road of scrimmage and discover methods to make performs.
His largest power is his means to assault downhill, and his measurement and power to complete tackles to the bottom ought to translate properly to his sport within the NFL.
Hicks was additionally utilized in a number of completely different blitz seems to be, and with good closing pace in addition to respectable cross rush strikes in opposition to blocking working backs, he was capable of finding methods to cease quarterbacks.
The development of placing taller or stronger gamers within the slot has turn out to be quickly standard throughout the sport of soccer as a result of mismatches it may possibly create for a protection. Hicks is probably not the very best suited to tackle a extra conventional pace slot, however together with his physicality and measurement, he’s nice for taking up the “energy” or “tall” slot gamers.
Hicks does an important job of monitoring this ball within the air and preventing to take it away for the interception. Nice physicality to get the ball and end the play. pic.twitter.com/xSRcBqp7AO
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) Could 24, 2024
Ja’Lynn Polk strains up within the slot for Washington — drafted by the New England Patriots with the thirty seventh choose of the 2024 NFL Draft— and runs a fade to the sideline with Hicks lined up throughout from him.
Hicks is giving cushion on the snap, however as Polk begins to go to the sideline and search for the ball, Hicks does an important job of closing down area and starting to trace the ball himself. Polk goes to be on the lookout for an acrobatic seize across the sideline, however Hicks will get his head round and goes for the ball.
Exhibiting off his bodily nature, Hicks wrestles the ball away from Polk and pulls it into his physique, securing the interception.
Polk was the most effective receivers in faculty soccer in 2023, and he did use his measurement and size to win soar balls in opposition to smaller slot defenders, however Hicks blanketed him and confirmed glorious aggressive toughness to return away with the soccer.
How Hicks will slot in with the Chiefs
Reid and Cook dinner would be the Chiefs two beginning safeties in 2024, however Hicks will doubtless get an opportunity to take the position that was performed by Edwards final season.
Edwards was essential to the Chiefs’ defensive success, not solely as a ballhawk who compelled three turnovers but additionally as a key depth piece and eventual starter as soon as Cook dinner went down with an harm.
Whereas Hicks can have an opportunity to compete for this position, he will even must take care of up-and-coming second-year defensive again Chamarri Conner. Extra of a hybrid sort between a security and nook, Conner is a participant who might have a breakout season in his personal proper and will probably be there to supply high quality competitors for Hicks throughout organized group actions (OTAs) and coaching camp.
Hicks will discover the sphere ultimately in 2024, however early on, he’ll doubtless be a key particular groups contributor and reserve defender whereas studying Spagnolo’s system.
2024 is the ultimate 12 months of Reid’s contract with the Chiefs, and if the group chooses to not re-sign him, it will open up an opportunity for Hicks to compete for a beginning job in the course of the 2025 season.
Throughout Brett Veach’s tenure as the final supervisor of the Chiefs, he has used drafting in amount to construct his secondary, and the collection of Hicks matches this philosophy.
In 2020 the Chiefs chosen Snead with the 138th general choose, and in 2024 they chose Hicks with the 133rd general choose.
There may be expertise throughout all rounds of the NFL Draft, however it’s extra about what groups do with the expertise after the draft that’s most vital. Hicks suits the factors that the Chiefs are on the lookout for in a defensive again, and now it’s as much as them to search out one of the best ways to make the most of him.
