Kamal Hadden is the third Tennessee player selected in this year’s NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Hadden in the sixth round with the 211th pick. He was the Chiefs’ first cornerback and second secondary pick in the draft.
As a senior in 2023, he set career highs in interceptions and passes defended, while his overall coverage for the Vols improved significantly. He struggled at times in 2022, but appeared to improve his man and zone coverage skills and became a much better defender as a senior.
Hadden is highly regarded by Pro Football Focus, with a defensive coverage grade of 90.4, placing him second among SEC corners and fifth overall. He was also targeted 33 times and allowed only 12 receptions for a 36.4 percentage, which ranks among the best in the country.
Who are the Chiefs getting in Kamal Hadden?
Hadden joins the Chiefs as a physical, underappreciated cornerback. There are certainly some areas he has to work on, as do most [0] round draft picks, but he has the potential to be a starting cornerback in the NFL soon.
He was a lockdown corner for the Vols in his senior year and second year as a starter before sustaining a season-ending injury. He’s aggressive and unafraid to confront opposing receivers. He’s also a very proud, tough cornerback who did not allow a touchdown reception in 2023.
If Hadden develops properly, the Chiefs might have a future starting cornerback and a steal late in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
