Jaden Hicks is entering his second NFL season and stands to see an uptick in playing time.
On Tuesday, football analytics website Pro Football Focus continued its offseason series with the “2025 All-Breakout Team.”
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The Kansas City Chiefs had one player crack the list: second-year safety Jaden Hicks.
SAFETY: JADEN HICKS, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Most attention surrounding the Chiefs’ offseason has rightfully focused on the team’s adjusted offensive line, but Kansas City also must mitigate the exit of safety Justin Reid. That’s where Hicks should step up.
Across 469 snaps in 2024, Hicks recorded an impressive 75.1 overall PFF grade with a 75.7 PFF coverage grade and a miniscule 2.7% missed tackle rate — the third-lowest among qualified safeties. Hicks’ advanced PFF metrics are wildly impressive, such as his 91st percentile run stop rate and 74th percentile forced incompletion rate.
Steve Spagnuolo has earned a reputation for drafting and developing top defensive backs, from Trent McDuffie to Charvarius Ward to Jaylen Watson and more. Hicks, a former fourth-round pick, seems to check all the boxes of the next great Chiefs late-round find.
My take
Since 2018, the Chiefs have demonstrated a clear-cut strategy at the safety position. As Kansas City invests heavily in the quarterback, defensive tackle and offensive line, it stresses remaining good, cheap and young at the safety position.
Tyrann Mathieu gave way to Justin Reid and Juan Thornhill, a transition that is now continuing with the additions of Bryan Cook and Hicks. PFF referenced its advanced metrics in the write-up, but I often bring up a traditional one from 2024 that stands out among the rest.
Despite finishing 16th in defensive snaps (330) in 2024, Hicks led Kansas City with three interceptions, including back-to-back games with picks against the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans. By comparison, defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah saw the field for two more defensive snaps (332) than Hicks.
With a full workload in 2025, Hicks could very well place himself among the league leaders in takeaways.
Hicks was a good selection, but I also might have considered adding wide receiver Xavier Worthy to the mix. The AFC West saw two other players make it: Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer.
