Arrowhead Pride Bye Week Awards 2024: Defensive Rookie of the Year

With five games already played and 12 more to go, the Kansas City Chiefs are on their bye week in Week 6, prompting the announcement of midseason awards.

The voting for the top defensive rookie was conducted by the Arrowhead Pride writing staff members, each having one vote from the 10 contributors. Here, we reveal the top defensive rookie of the season so far.

VOTING: S Jaden Hicks (9), P Matt Araiza (1)

The choices for the best rookie on the Chiefs’ defense are limited this season due to the strong lineup from the previous year. Hicks is leading the pack as a standout rookie on a team with seasoned veterans.

The Chiefs had minimal changes in their defensive lineup from last season, with Hicks showing great potential for the future. Despite other rookie defenders in the team, Hicks stands out as a promising talent.

Not quite running unopposed— but almost

Apart from Hicks, the only other rookie defender on the Chiefs is cornerback Chris Rolland-Wallace. However, Hicks has shown significant promise and potential for future success within the team.

Hicks has already displayed his skills in the preseason and could serve as a reliable replacement if needed during the season.

With 110 snaps this season, Hicks has demonstrated his versatility on special teams and defense, garnering positive grades from Pro Football Focus.

The best is yet to come

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach received praise for Hicks from Tyrann Mathieu, further solidifying Hicks’ potential for success in the league.

Time will tell if Hicks lives up to Mathieu’s expectations, but all signs point to a promising future for this rookie defender.

As the saying goes, “Dress like the job you want, not the one you have.”

The same principle applies to playing football.