Chiefs News: Kamal Hadden building support system for success

When you’re a late-round draft pick fighting to make the team, you must ensure you are constantly putting your best foot forward and learning the playbook as quickly as possible.

It doesn’t matter that it feels like you’re drinking out of a firehose. You either chug that water, or you wash out.

This is why Kansas City Chiefs sixth-round draft pick cornerback Kamal Hadden has spent the summer picking the brains of those around him who can help him be successful. Hadden and his teammate, second-year defensive back Nic Jones, both hail from Michigan, so the pair met up regularly to train together this offseason.

Hadden said he used the opportunity to pick Jones’ brain about the Chiefs’ playbook.

“Just asking him questions every day while we train,” explained Hadden. “Bouncing things off of him while we training and just asking him any little things, to help me.”

Hadden said he wanted to prepare for how difficult training camp would be as a new player entering this system.

“They throw everything at you, so you got to learn everything, learn as much as you can, and just, you know, keep working it. Keep your head in the books.”

With the departure of L’Jarius Sneed this offseason, the expectation is that Kansas City will move cornerback Trent McDuffie out of the slot and play him more on the perimeter. Because of this, Hadden said that he has been getting work playing on the inside.

“I’m open to play anywhere and learn anything that allows me to help this team and help this organization.”

Hadden missed the second half of 2023 with a season-ending shoulder injury he suffered while playing at Tennessee. But while speaking to reporters, he said he was healed and ready to compete in camp.

“I feel back, man,” exclaimed Hadden. “It’s real good to be back on the field. I feel like I’m more faster. I feel like I’m stronger. And mainly, I feel like I’m smarter. The game took me out. But it helped me grow mentally and helped me grow as a man and as a player.”

Part of what has helped Hadden grow as a person has been his relationship with defensive backs coach Dave Merrit. Hadden calls Merrit a mentor, one who has helped him achieve the personal growth he has found off the football field.

“He’s been a real mentor, mainly outside of football. You know, just helped me grow as a person and helped me grow as a young man,” revealed Hadden. “[Merrit’s] been a real great mentor.

“He’s somebody that I look up to, and somebody I really, truly appreciate for seeing me and helping me, even from when I first met him.”