At the University of Tennessee, Cornerback Kamal Hadden was a standout performer. However, after a shoulder injury derailed the remainder of his 2023 season, a lengthy draft process ended with a happy ending in Kansas City.
The Chiefs have consistently demonstrated their prowess in finding hidden gems in the later rounds. A prime example is starting Guard Trey Smith, another sixth-round pick from the University of Tennessee. General Manager Brett Veach’s astute decision-making led to a home run with that pick, and it seems he’s replicated that success with Cornerback Kamal Hadden.
I understand why teams shied away from Hadden once the draft shifted to Saturday. In assessing the talent remaining, the Chiefs had other needs to fill in rounds four and five. However, they didn’t mess around in round six, taking the super-talented cornerback.
Haden’s ball skills and defensive prowess are similar to L’Jarius Sneed’s. He’s also another in a long line of secondary players the Chiefs have turned into valuable defensive commodities. Still being passed over when he was arguably one of the best secondary performers available at the onset of the draft doesn’t seem to bother Hadden one bit.
“I just think it’s another opportunity. Another guy that can come in and show up and show (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags (that) he can really recruit and he can see talent, even in the late rounds,” Hadden said to the media on Sunday.
“He can go get guys, he can develop guys and that was one thing that I met on my (top) 30 visit, it was just a connection there, I knew him, he worked through my DC (defensive coordinator) at Tennessee (Tim Banks) before. It was just a great thing and it’s a great opportunity to go in there and fill those shoes and go out there and be able to play under a coach like Coach Spags.”
The one thing Chiefs fans need to understand about their new cornerback is that his overall talent, ability to make plays, and willingness to be coached should make him an immediate impact defender for Kansas City.
He was tough and physical at Tennessee, and before the shoulder injury, he was likely a second-round pick. Thankfully, the Chiefs were patient, and other teams passed on his talents. He’s also not afraid to go against the best receivers in the game. In fact, on Sunday, he also remarked about covering Xavier Worthy in practice.
“Xavier (Worthy), he’s a great receiver, the speed is one thing but I feel like he runs great routes, he’s a great route runner and he’s a guy that can get open and I feel like he’s a guy that’s going to make a lot of plays in the league and he’s going to do his thing here. It was just good to go against him and see – just different receivers – I never played against him in college but I saw him a lot so it was a good iron-sharpens-iron rep. I just want to take the whole thing and be appreciative that I can go against somebody like that to get me better and I can also get him better as well,” he said about the Chiefs top draft pick.
If you’re going to play for Steve Spagnuolo, you can’t be shy about being aggressive or sharpening your game during practice. Hadden appears to have squarely used any chip to be passed over to his advantage. In fact, from the onset of his selection, he seems very happy in a Chiefs uniform.
“I just think it’s another opportunity. Another guy that can come in and show up and show (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags (that) he can really recruit and he can see talent, even in the late rounds. He can go get guys, he can develop guys and that was one thing that I met on my (top) 30 visit, it was just a connection there, I knew him, he worked through my DC (defensive coordinator) at Tennessee (Tim Banks) before. It was just a great thing and it’s a great opportunity to go in there and fill those shoes and go out there and be able to play under a coach like Coach Spags,” Hadden commented about his new defensive coordinator.
Yes, it’s early to determine how Hadden will ultimately fit when the Chiefs open the 2024 season in September, but if his first impression means anything, he’s the perfect Spags defender.
