Jaden Hicks is suddenly making an undeniable case for more snaps in 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs completed their first preseason game on Saturday. It was a chance to see which names on the roster bubble were impressing. Other players were hoping to further establish a greater hold on a potential impact role. One player who did just that was defensive back Jaden Hicks.

Hicks was all over the field on Saturday, making plays in multiple areas. Kyler Murray gifted him an easy interception. Hicks also quietly led the Chiefs in interceptions last year despite not having a large number of snaps.

Meanwhile, there appears to be an opportunity to utilize Hicks in numerous ways within this defense. Given how it is currently constructed, plus the glimpses he showed in the first preseason outing, we may be seeing him wear multiple hats for Steve Spagnuolo.

What did Saturday's glimpses reveal regarding Jaden Hicks and his possible role this season? Plus, how could the defensive back room set him up for a specific usage?

Breakout in coverage

Jaden Hicks was not doing anything spectacular to get his interception on Saturday. However, his coverage abilities are certainly few and far between within this Kansas City defense.

Not many names outside of Trent McDuffie can be trusted to reach dirty areas, shallow areas, or wide angles as often in coverage as Hicks can. If you look at some of his plays on the football late last season, he was generally able to knife his way into small windows to generate ball production.

The Chiefs simply do not have many players who offer that same anticipation and reactive quickness in the secondary. Outside of playing well in difficult spots to defend, Hicks can win with some physicality. There are going to be reps where he will outmuscle a pass catcher for the ball. We saw some of that early in his career in spurts. All in all, his potential breakout in coverage centers around being a unique piece that is nearly unmatched in terms of skill set in the Chiefs' secondary.

More than just pass coverage

Jaden Hicks whiffed on a tackle attempt or two during Saturday's first preseason showing. But outside of his pass coverage ability, the Washington State product can be disruptive in many other areas. Hicks was being shown as a blitzer in pressure walkthroughs while I was at training camp in late July. Add in his toughness, and Hicks could find solid production as a blitzer with Spagnuolo's patented defensive back blitz calls.

Outside of blitzing, this is a player who could replace what Justin Reid brought as a stiff run tackler at the safety position. He is not afraid to stick his face in the fan. Additionally, Hicks exudes the same technical refinement that Reid offered. It will never be something that grabs major headlines, but if his disruption as a tackler and blitzer comes to fruition in 2025, the Jaden Hicks hype will only continue to climb.

Chiefs secondary faces added questions

The Chiefs are facing more questions than answers at the defensive back spot following the first preseason game. Deon Bush was unfortunately ruled out quickly after suffering an Achilles injury. His special teams ability and depth safety value will now be missed.

Meanwhile, it became apparent last season that Chamarri Conner needs to play a more natural safety spot this season. That is where he has worked in training camp. Reps like last year from the slot brought the entire secondary down in key moments.

Even with Hicks, Conner, and Bryan Cook, will the Chiefs go out and add more safety depth after the Bush injury? Is Chris Roland-Wallace going to serve more reps at safety or cornerback when he gets in, assuming he makes the team? Overall, Kansas City will have a possible versatile option in Jaden Hicks, while still needing to reassure some spots entering the regular season.