Tennessee Vols cornerback Kamal Hadden was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round (No. 211 overall ) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
And Chiefs fans are already loving the pick -- in part because Hadden reminds them of a former Kansas City standout.
After Hadden was selected by the Chiefs, numerous fans and members of the media pointed out that he shares several traits with former Kansas City cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, who signed with the Tennessee Titans earlier this offseason.
Hadden and Sneed are essentially the same size. And they tested similarly in a couple of key categories at the NFL combine (Sneed is a bit faster).
Sneed was a key player for the Chiefs during their on-going Super Bowl run. He would often frustrate opposing wide receivers, something that Hadden often did during his time at Tennessee.
That's a trait that's often overlooked in cornerbacks. The athleticism and length to play the position are obvious. Long and fast are two traits that are a must for a cornerback. Talking trash and getting into the head of your opponent is another trait that should be considered mandatory.
During Hadden's time at Tennessee, he was sometimes criticized for continuing to talk trash to wide receivers even when the Vols were giving up chunk plays.
Ultimately, though, that's how a cornerback has to play -- you gotta have a short memory if you're a cornerback. And you have to continue to try to throw your opponent off their game if you want to be at your most dominant.
Hadden will get a chance to prove that he can be a dependable defender for the Chiefs. It's now up to him to make the most of that chance. And who knows, maybe he can be the next L'Jarius Sneed for Kansas City.
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