An NFL player’s ability to “break out” is predicated on two things: 1.) having the potential to do so, and 2.) having the opportunity in front of him. Kansas City Chiefs safety Jaden Hicks holds both of these.

Hicks was the fourth-round choice for the Chiefs in the 2024 NFL Draft, and was widely considered a steal from the moment general manager Brett Veach submitted his name. Even before then, draft analysts were wondering how Hicks sat there available for the taking for the entirety of the round before K.C. stopped his unexplained fall at No. 133 overall.

Given his impactful production as a rookie, it feels like a very safe assumption that he will be much improved in 2025 with a year of experience under his belt. It should also be noted that the Chiefs’ coaching staff will also know better how to utilize Hicks’ skill set.

Last season, the Chiefs utilized Hicks in multiple roles, as is often the case with defensive backs, giving him experience at free safety and down in the box as well as slot corner. The usage mirrored the way he was deployed at Washington State, giving him an impressive history as a versatile defender.

Jaden Hicks sits the perfect intersection of potential and opportunity for the Chiefs.

HIcks’ instincts are exemplary against the run and he’s a strong physical tackler. As the game slows down for him and becomes more familiar, the Chiefs should only benefit even more from Hicks’ ability to process the game faster than before.

Not only does Hicks hold the requisite potential to break out in 2025, but the Chiefs also need him in a much greater capacity with the departure of Justin Reid in free agency. The Saints signed Reid away after three seasons in K.C., and Veach decided against importing any significant competition for vacated roles at safety.

That means Bryan Cook and Hicks are the assumed starters for the Chiefs at safety in a base defense with Chamarri Conner offering quality reps in three-safety sets. It will be interesting to see how the Chiefs use Hicks and Conner in tandem considering how much their profiles overlap. But therein lies Spags’ ability to mix things up to confuse defenses.

While the Chiefs retained Deon Bush and signed Mike Edwards in free agency as familiar vets who could vie for playing time, the truth is that the ceiling is too low for either to expect much playing time. The runway is clear for Hicks to occupy of greater importance to the Chiefs’ defense (and for the mainstream attention to follow).