{"id":9789,"date":"2025-01-09T11:55:05","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T11:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=9789"},"modified":"2025-01-09T11:55:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T11:55:05","slug":"breaking-jaden-hicks-just-the-latest-young-capable-defensive-back-the-chiefs-have-developed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=9789","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Jaden Hicks just the latest young, capable defensive back the Chiefs have developed"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2025\/01\/08193032\/GettyImages-2179853433-scaled-e1736382652210-1024x683.jpg?width=1920&amp;quality=70&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 20: Jaden Hicks #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after intercepting a pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi&amp;#039;s Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images)\" \/><\/p>\n<p>KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014 Last month, in the opening minutes of the Chiefs\u2019 victory over the Houston Texans, rookie safety Jaden Hicks trotted onto the field as part of the defense\u2019s dime personnel group.<\/p>\n<p>The Texans faced a third-and-12 snap near midfield. Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs\u2019 longtime defensive coordinator, wanted Hicks on the field to be one of the two deep safeties. Justin Reid, the seven-year safety, gave instructions to Hicks, too, telling him that cornerback Joshua Williams would undercut the throw, so just stay over the top of the receiver.<\/p>\n<p>Hicks did as he was told. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud overthrew his intermediate pass and Hicks leaped to catch his interception over Houston receiver Nico Collins, setting up the Chiefs\u2019 first touchdown.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis group (of defensive backs) helps me get ready each week and for the biggest moments of the games,\u201d Hicks said.<\/p>\n<p>The highlight was an example of how Hicks\u2019 coverage skills have continued to ascend through his rookie season. The play was also Hicks\u2019 team-leading third interception despite starting in only one game. In the second half of the regular season, Hicks\u2019 play has improved as much as his snap count has increased.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s a total DB,\u201d Reid said of Hicks.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER PICK FOR HICKS \ud83d\ude24 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qLGF1S7RSw\">pic.twitter.com\/qLGF1S7RSw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Chiefs\/status\/1870532322300170510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 21, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Last spring, in the weeks before the NFL Draft, many analysts didn\u2019t describe Hicks\u2019 play style as that of a ballhawk. But most expected Hicks, who played at Washington State, to be selected late in the second or third round. Instead, Hicks woke up on the third morning of the draft still available. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach didn\u2019t even have to trade up in the fourth round to select Hicks, whom <em>The Athletic<\/em>\u2019s Dane Brugler graded as the 39th overall prospect and the best safety in the 2024 class.<\/p>\n<p>In college, Hicks was known for being an above-average hitter and tackler. In his last season at Washington State, Hicks recorded six tackles from behind the line of scrimmage, two interceptions and six pass breakups.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know what I\u2019m capable of,\u201d Hicks said of exceeding his initial scouting report. \u201cWhen they labeled me as just a run-stopping safety, that fuels the fire even more. I\u2019m glad I got to show it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Chiefs entered the draft with four viable safeties \u2014 Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner and Deon Bush.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re blessed to have him,\u201d Williams said of Hicks. \u201cHe has some amazing vets around him \u2014 Cook, D-Bush and J-Reid \u2014 giving him tips. He\u2019s soaking it all up and making plays.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hicks is just the latest rookie the Chiefs have developed into a capable contributor. Before Hicks, Spagnuolo had similar success with defensive backs in their rookie seasons, including Conner, Cook, Williams and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and L\u2019Jarius Sneed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis growth process has been really what we expected and really what we hoped for,\u201d Spagnuolo said of Hicks. \u201cHe\u2019s just gotten better and better. He gets more confident every week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The best illustration of Hicks\u2019 swagger came late in the Chiefs\u2019 last relevant game.<\/p>\n<p>On Christmas Day against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game the Chiefs dominated, Hicks was one of the two deep safeties, alongside Cook, for a fourth-and-20 snap. The Steelers tried one of their most successful plays: throw the ball deep and near the sideline to receiver George Pickens. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw a precise pass that allowed Pickens the opportunity to outjump Hicks. But Hicks elevated with Wilson and prevented the completion. While Pickens was lying on the turf, Hicks celebrated over him, putting his thumbs down, leading to a 15-yard taunting penalty.<\/p>\n<p>In training camp, Spagnuolo spent a considerable amount of time during most practices next to Hicks, talking him through certain techniques \u2014 how to blitz from the nickel position, how to better disguise his coverage with pre-snap movement and how to be in the proper place in zone coverage.<\/p>\n<p>Even last month, Spagnuolo noticed that Hicks, whether the Chiefs were in a walkthrough or a practice, was paying attention to every pre-snap detail he had based on his various assignments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s got a great attitude,\u201d safeties coach Donald D\u2019Alesio said of Hicks. \u201cHe\u2019s always smiling, happy to be in the building and loves football. When those rookies get here, we throw a lot (of plays) at them early, just to see what they can handle, how they can process things. We know it\u2019s going to shrink and slow down as the year goes on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s what people are seeing now. He\u2019s got the confidence, the (snaps) are starting to come and he\u2019s able to go out there and play fast.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hicks\u2019 first interception came in October in the Chiefs\u2019 win over the San Francisco 49ers.<\/p>\n<p>With 11 minutes left in the game, Reid, the Chiefs\u2019 most experienced safety, made a touchdown-saving tackle. Reid used all of his strength to shed the blocking attempt of receiver Chris Conley, then wrapped his arms around the hips of running back Jordan Mason to stop him just 3 yards from the end zone. After his tackle, though, Reid felt pain in his left hand. He signaled to Hicks to take the field in his place.<\/p>\n<p>Hicks was on the field for just his second snap of the game when the 49ers faced a critical third-and-goal play from the Chiefs\u2019 5-yard line. Hicks\u2019 assignment was a simple one: help cornerback Trent McDuffie bracket Conley. When Hicks turned his eyes back toward quarterback Brock Purdy, he was in the proper spot in the end zone to make a diving interception, ending the 49ers\u2019 comeback attempt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEach day, he\u2019s over here critiquing me, making sure I\u2019m doing the right things,\u201d Hicks said of Reid, the veteran who has become his biggest mentor. \u201cI appreciate him so much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the postseason, the Chiefs hope Hicks can get his hands on the ball in the middle of the field with space to run. The last time that happened, in a win over the Cleveland Browns, Hicks returned the interception 47 yards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was joking around with the guys,\u201d Hicks said, laughing. \u201cThe next day, I\u2019m like, \u2018Just to let y\u2019all know, I\u2019ve got the best return skills out of everyone.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One truth everyone in the secondary can agree with is this: Hicks is no longer playing like a rookie, which should help the Chiefs defense be at its strongest for the postseason.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will say it\u2019s getting easier,\u201d Hicks said of adjusting to the NFL. \u201cRookie mode is not really there anymore. I\u2019m becoming older, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p id=\"writerBioText\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hicks leads the Chiefs with three interceptions despite starting only one game. He should play a role in the postseason.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[19],"class_list":["post-9789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kansas-city-chiefs","tag-kansas-city-chiefs"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>BREAKING: Jaden Hicks just the latest young, capable defensive back the Chiefs have developed - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=9789\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Jaden Hicks just the latest young, capable defensive back the Chiefs have developed - Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hicks leads the Chiefs with three interceptions despite starting only one game. 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