The Chiefs are pretty darn good at this whole NFL Draft thing.
Just two picks after finding a potential Travis Kelce successor with TCU TE Jared Wiley, Brett Veach landed perhaps the steal of the draft thus far, picking Washington State safety Jaden Hicks with the 133rd selection.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic had Hicks as his No. 1 ranked safety, with some draft services believing Hicks was a second-round prospect. Stop me if you've heard this before, but Veach hit another home run.
Chiefs Select Washington State S Jaden Hicks With Steal of the Draft
Jaden Hicks, a safety from Washington State, is the most surprising pick so far for the Chiefs, who selected him at the 133 pick. He had 6 TFLs, 2 interceptions & 6 pass breakups.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 27, 2024
Dane Brugler had Hicks graded as the 39th overall prospect & the best safety in his year’s class.
I took Hicks in version 2.0 of my mock draft series and I'm thrilled to see he was still available. Hicks recorded 155 tackles, 10 deflected passes, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and a pair of TDs over the last two years as a starter for the Cougars, showcasing incredible coverage skills with a knack for big plays as well.
At 6'2", 211 LBs with 4.5 40-yard dash speed, the versatile defensive back should quickly find playing time in Kansas City's secondary.
Jaden Hicks coverage on Ja’Lynn Polk here 👀 pic.twitter.com/jFl7oB8AAZ
— The Kingdom (@MahomeSZN) April 27, 2024
Hicks projects long-term as a Justin Reid replacement but can make a positive impact right away. His versatility allows him to play some cornerback as well, as he's proven he can hang with top receivers in coverage.
One of the most athletic safeties in recent memory, Hicks might be my favorite pick of the entire draft so far.
That sound you hear is every other team's front office slamming the table in frustration, as Brett Veach once again gave the Chiefs a dynamic playmaker that'll prove to be a steal.
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