Wednesday (4/17) is the last official day for top-30 visits prior to the 2024 NFL Draft.
One recent visit for the Cleveland Browns that may have slid under the radar was Jaden Hicks. Hicks is a former safety from Washington State who also met with the Jets and Raiders according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
He is an aggressive strong safety with the ability to play close to the box and stifle the run game. Hicks is not afraid to stick his nose in the middle of traffic and plays physical at the point of attack. He is regularly hustling around the field and manages to take quality angles to the ball carrier most of the time. He might not be the best safety in coverage, yet by no means will he be a liability.
Hicks is my 105th overall prospect and eighth ranked safety in this year’s draft class.
Nov 5, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; Washington State Cougars defensive back Jaden Hicks (25).
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Hicks was extremely consistent in his time with the Cougars. In 2022, the safety recorded 75 total tackles, 45 of those being solo tackles and added one sack and an interception. In 2023, he recorded 76 total tackles, 47 of those being solo tackles and also added 2.5 sacks and 2 interceptions. It is rare to see numbers so closely align from one year to the next, but it shows that we have an accurate representation of what he can provide.
Cleveland’s secondary has fully stayed in tact and now the Browns get Rodney McLeod Jr. back as well. With this in mind, I doubt that Hicks will be selected by the Cleveland Browns due to the depth already at the position.
If he does join Cleveland, then Hicks will be in a room with Grant Delpit, Juan Thornhill, Rodney McLeod Jr., Ronnie Hickman and D’Anthony Bell. He would have the opportunity to contribute on special teams and then perhaps see more time on defense during the 2025 season.
