Chiefs rookie S Jaden Hicks proving to be the turnover-making playmaker the defense desperately needs
It's becoming increasingly apparent that the Kansas City Chiefs have found themselves a steal in the 2024 NFL draft. Chiefs rookie S Jaden Hicks earned a career-high in snaps just a week ago against the Cleveland Browns. The fourth-round pick out of Washington State validated his increased snap count and usage with a game-clinching 47-yard interception […]
It's becoming increasingly apparent that the Kansas City Chiefs have found themselves a steal in the 2024 NFL draft.
Chiefs rookie S Jaden Hicks earned a career-high in snaps just a week ago against the Cleveland Browns. The fourth-round pick out of Washington State validated his increased snap count and usage with a game-clinching 47-yard interception return. He followed that performance up with an opening-series interception that set Patrick Mahomes and the offense up for an opening touchdown drive against the Houston Texans in Week 16.
The interception was Hicks' third interception of the 2024 NFL season, which gives him the lead in interceptions over Chiefs teammates Chamarri Conner and Bryan Cook. He was previously tied with the pair with two interceptions.
The crazy part about it is that Hicks has played just over 19% of the team's total defensive snaps heading into Week 16. Cook has played 92% of the team's total defensive snaps, while Conner has played 63%. Hicks is taking advantage of his repetitions and creating turnovers at quite a rate.
Hicks still has a long way to go to match the Chiefs' rookie interception record (8), which was last met by Marcus Peters in 2015. However, the turnover department hasn't been great for Kansas City in 2024. Their 14 turnovers forced are good for just 22nd in the NFL. Hicks should continue to see more and more opportunities so long as he takes advantage of his time on the field as he has so far this season.
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