The Kansas City Chiefs have a history of drafting great defensive back players over the last few years. We all know about the rookie class that practically won the Chiefs playoff games two years ago. A lot of the key pieces from that secondary were drafted on day three of the draft. With the departure of L'Jarius Sneed this offseason through a trade to the Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs went right back to drafting the position.
This time they snagged Jaden Hicks from Washington State, who looks to be a guy that can play really anywhere on the entire field. Then they drafted Kamal Hadden from Tennessee late on day three. Hadden was a starter at Tennessee, but during the 2023-24 matchup with Alabama, Hadden sustained a brutal injury that left him having to have season-ending shoulder surgery.
That could be why he was drafted as late as he was and was available when the Chiefs were on the clock. It happens often - a player sustains an injury, and every team passes on that player. The Chiefs see something in him. Now he is fully cleared from his rehabilitation and worked with the Chiefs during rookie minicamp in full capacity.
"It was a great feeling; I kind of got that in-game experience a little bit at practice yesterday. It's just a great, very appreciative feeling," Hadden said during his press conference. "Once you get the game taken away from you for a while, it makes you appreciate it a little more; it makes you want to go a little harder in practice and just give your everything while you are playing because you never know when it can be taken away from you and you just want to make the most of your opportunities.
"Coming into this organization, it's a great organization, you're very thankful, and it's a blessing to be here and be a part of something like this, so you just want to do everything you can to help this organization."
Hadden had some impressive moments in college, and I'm willing to bet that if he had not had the shoulder injury, he would have gone much higher in the draft. If any team is going to get the best out of a late-round day-three guy, it's the Kansas City Chiefs. Look at the defensive backs they have developed and their starting running back, Isiah Pacheco, who was also a late-day three pick.
Hadden is going to prove that the Chiefs made the right decision.
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