Ranking the Chiefs' Three Best Draft Picks (and Two Worst)

By any measure, the Chiefs' 2024 draft class looks like a rousing success and one that can contribute both immediately and in the future. Kansas City filled needs while prioritizing rare athleticism, typically a strong combination when you have a coaching staff with as much experience in developing players as the Chiefs' does.

Brett Veach had already overseen a complementary roster with few holes, though he ensured the organization has flexibility while finding answers to the limited number of questions that remained.

Nonetheless, some picks were better than others and some deserve to be criticized. See below a look at the Chiefs' three best selections of the draft along with their two worst. We'll start with my favorite pick before moving down the line:

Chiefs' Three Best Draft Picks

1. Jaden Hicks - Safety, Washington State (4th Round)

Before the draft, I wrote that "the opportunity to land a player of that caliber in the fourth round doesn't come often and I'm crossing my fingers that Brett Veach will have a chance to snag the Washington State standout."

Well, the opportunity presented itself and Veach took advantage. Jaden Hicks is one of the best picks of the entire 2024 NFL Draft in any round, and he projects to be a long-term starter for the Chiefs as a perfect archetype for Steve Spagnuolo's defense. He reunites with former college teammate Jaylen Watson, giving Kansas City's secondary two young players already comfortable with each other as well.

In two years as a starter for the Cougars, Hicks compiled 155 tackles, 10 deflected passes, three interceptions and a pair of TDs while contributing on special teams. He's a dynamic, physical player who the Chiefs can line up all over the field.

Hicks was routinely called one of the most versatile and talented safeties in the draft class. For him to fall to pick No. 133 is an oversight from the rest of the NFL, but luckily Brett Veach was ready to take advantage of the league's mistake.

Outside of Xavier Worthy, Hicks is the rookie I'm most confident in making a sizeable impact in his first year. That being said, he's not the only great pick the Chiefs made, as you'll see on the following page.