*****The Jaden Hicks Thread*****

[Dante84]

More to come!

Jaden Hicks was the No. 1 safety on the @dpbrugler board, and Dane knows his stuff. Never imagined Hicks would be available in the fourth round. Incredible value there.

— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) April 27, 2024

Chiefs Fourth Round Draft Pick Washington State S Jaden Hicks Press Conference https://t.co/Njlc1HiQ5b

— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) April 27, 2024

The call that changed @JadenHicks11's life ❤️

�� / @JTTheBrick pic.twitter.com/otRVSIWeOb

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 27, 2024

The Chiefs drafted a GAME CHANGER in Washington State safety @JadenHicks11! ��

(fueled by @Holladay1856) pic.twitter.com/jB7D554a1y

— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) April 27, 2024

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Romo put it good Sunday, something about how high effort guy like that who is smart playing with Chris Jones is gonna motor his way to 6-7 sacks every year. Doesn't mean he is worth a big contract or that he is invaluable. Very nice complement to the real superstar out there.

He’s going to get better and better. He’s still only 23 years old and it looks like he’s gotten better at pursuit angles and disengaging from tackles to make a sack (as we saw Sunday).

He may not be a “superstar” but he’s gonna be a 12-15 sack guy moving forward. Those guys as valuable, even if you think they are effort sacks. If you don’t believe me then look at FAU who is also a high effort guy who just can’t get the strength or technique down.

If I’m Veach I’m paying these guys. Pay Trent, pay Karlaftis (stagger those 2), pay Trey , pay Bol….(nope), try to keep Watson and Leo on a deal that works.

The problem with the Saints is they kept about of injured old players which killed their cap. It’s not killing your cap to pay good players entering their prime.

FA is such a hit or miss deal. The best FA’s are the steals like Juju (2022), Breeland (2019) and Tranquil (2023).

[DJ's left nut]

A 12-15 sack guy is basically a superstar, no? That's a 100 sack player when it's all said and done.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by RunKC

He’s going to get better and better. He’s still only 23 years old and it looks like he’s gotten better at pursuit angles and disengaging from tackles to make a sack (as we saw Sunday).

He may not be a “superstar” but he’s gonna be a 12-15 sack guy moving forward. Those guys as valuable, even if you think they are effort sacks. If you don’t believe me then look at FAU who is also a high effort guy who just can’t get the strength or technique down.

If I’m Veach I’m paying these guys. Pay Trent, pay Karlaftis (stagger those 2), pay Trey , pay Bol….(nope), try to keep Watson and Leo on a deal that works.

The problem with the Saints is they kept about of injured old players which killed their cap. It’s not killing your cap to pay good players entering their prime.

FA is such a hit or miss deal. The best FA’s are the steals like Juju (2022), Breeland (2019) and Tranquil (2023).

They all gotta be deals that work, sans McDuffie. To me, Trey Smith shouldn't get much more than Humphrey. If he would rather leave to get it elsewhere over staying with the dynasty, that's his choice.

Bolton is retainable at a certain price, but he very well may be able to get more elsewhere. GK needs to develop more before I consider him in that $20m AAV range.

Good problems to have.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

A 12-15 sack guy is basically a superstar, no? That's a 100 sack player when it's all said and done.

Typically, but I truly think if you go back through the reel, about half or more are going to be because Jones or Wharton forced the QB off the spot first.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

If BV and Andy wanted to get stupid, they could model Miami and pay everyone top dollar and see how long it takes for the roster to crumble.

Instead, I think they'll try to keep all these guys - Bolton, Trey, GK, etc. - but it's apparent they aren't paying anyone a dollar more than they truly see their value as unless they are top five players at their positions. McDuffie is going to get what he wants.

It's a sustainable model that should have us in the final four conversation until 15 hangs it up.

Money will definitely be opening up soon. Kelce and Thuney are basically year-to-year at this point as well as Hollywood Brown, Jawaan might be gone after 2025 and I think Hicks is a developmental replacement for Justin Reid after this season.

We will have more than enough cap to get most of these guys locked in. Just keep drafting well and paying as many good young players as you can.

[RunKC]

Yeah George has 2 more season after this one. He’s totally a contract year player that busts out 15 sacks for a new deal. Get him done early.

[O.city]

If Karlaftis has double digit sacks this year, he's gonna want what Brian Burns got.

I'm not sure that's a wise thing to do.

12-15 sack a year guys are your elite guys. I don't think Karlaftis is that.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Whoever mentioned Tamba Hali -- that always seemed like GK's ceiling. And I don't see that yet, and I'd bet against it ever happening. Would love to be wrong.

[O.city]

Tamba played in a different era of QB's. They were alot more stationary then so his athleticism wasn't as big of an issue where now you' beat a T then have to chase down a QB....it's alot tougher.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by O.city

Tamba played in a different era of QB's. They were alot more stationary then so his athleticism wasn't as big of an issue where now you' beat a T then have to chase down a QB....it's alot tougher.

I'm just going purely based on get-off. He did it the one time I recall in the AFCC against Baltimore, but you don't see that ability to win around the corner like Tamba had. He is better at countering inside maybe though.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Whoever mentioned Tamba Hali -- that always seemed like GK's ceiling. And I don't see that yet, and I'd bet against it ever happening. Would love to be wrong.

But he does have the best nickname in perhaps all of football.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by O.city

If Karlaftis has double digit sacks this year, he's gonna want what Brian Burns got.

I'm not sure that's a wise thing to do.

12-15 sack a year guys are your elite guys. I don't think Karlaftis is that.

Well good luck finding pass rushers drafting late. Not exactly easy. FA is not easy either.

Chris Jones won’t be here more than 3 years IMO so a Karlaftis deal wouldn’t hit until he’s gone.

I personally think he can get to Hendrickson’s level. He reminds me so much of a younger Hendrickson. Will he? Remains to be seen. Can he? I think he can

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Well good luck finding pass rushers drafting late. Not exactly easy. FA is not easy either.

Chris Jones won’t be here more than 3 years IMO so a Karlaftis deal wouldn’t hit until he’s gone.

I personally think he can get to Hendrickson’s level. He reminds me so much of a younger Hendrickson. Will he? Remains to be seen. Can he? I think he can

Speaking of Hendrickson...

That type of signing - what Cincy gave him a few years ago - that is our best chance to get an impact rusher in the post-Chris Jones future if we continue to draft in the 29-32 range.