It’s never easy to make a name for yourself in the National Football League, especially if you’re not a highly-touted prospect or a first or second-round pick.
Notably, that might not be the case with Jaden Hicks.
The rookie fourth-round pick has turned some heads in the preseason, and NFL analyst Brian Baldinger has already given him a new nickname.
Baldinger watched Hicks dominate in the entire first half of the loss vs. the Chicago Bears, so he stated that it shouldn’t take long before people know him as ‘Jaden Licks’ if he keeps hitting people the way he did in the game.
.@Chiefs @JadenHicks11 we might be calling him Jaden Licks pretty soon if he keeps hitting like he did last night #chiefskingdom #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/zdlZpE4Y39
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 23, 2024
The fourth-round selection showed great instincts and defensive recognition both against the pass and the rush, breaking up passes and shaking off multiple offensive players to stay on his feet to make sure to complete tackles.
Needless to say, Hicks will have a tough time finding his way to the field in his rookie campaign, at least right out of the gate.
Even so, the rookie out of Washington State did more than enough to at least make sure that Steve Spagnuolo keeps him in the rotation, and championship-caliber coaches like him often find ways to get the best and more hustling players on the field.
There will be no margin for error for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 2024, and whoever’s at his best will get the nod to play as they pursue a third consecutive title, regardless of his name or how much money he makes.
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