The Kansas City Chiefs' defense will look quite different next season. Clearly, general manager Brett Veach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo thought they needed some fresh and young blood, and they invested heavily in the 2026 NFL Draft on that side of the field.
Likewise, the Chiefs let go and traded multiple proven, respected veterans. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson are no longer there, and veteran safety Bryan Cook jumped ship to join hated AFC rival Cincinnati Bengals.
Notably, that leaves the door wide open for Jaden Hicks to finally make a name for himself in the league. He regressed last season after a promising rookie campaign, and it's time he steps up in a make-or-break third season.
Jaden Hicks will have to step up for the Chiefs
All in all, Hicks did pretty well for a fourth-round pick in his first year in the league. He piled up 29 total tackles (23 solo), five passes defensed, two run stops, and three picks. His impressive ball-hawk skills and his prowess in coverage got him a 72.2 Pro Football Focus grade as a rookie.
Unfortunately, he wasn't able to keep the momentum going in his second year in the league. While he started three games versus one the year prior, Hicks didn't pick off a single pass, register any tackle for loss, and was much more erratic in coverage, as evidenced by his 62.2 overall PFF grade.
Still, Hicks has shown enough flashes to be granted another opportunity in 2026. On paper, the Chiefs will roll with Chamarri Conner at strong safety and Alohi Gilman by his side, but neither is a bona fide star by any means. Hicks is a versatile guy who can hold his ground in the box and also make an impact when he drops into coverage, and that type of versatility will come in handy for Spagnuolo's defense.
The Chiefs are looking to bounce back after the most disappointing season of the Andy Reid era. As such, they're not going to play whoever has the most experience or the biggest contract; they will roll with the guys who give this team a better chance to succeed.
Also, with this being the third of his four-year rookie contract, it will essentially be Hicks' last chance to prove that he's worth keeping around for the long run. There will be no margin for error; it's now or never for the former Washington State star.
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