2024 NFL draft: Chiefs take Tennessee CB Kamal Hadden with pick No. 211

With pick No. 211 in the 2024 NFL draft, the Kansas City #Chiefs selected Tennessee CB Kamal Hadden

The Kansas City Chiefs finally addressed their defense with the No. 211 selection in the 2024 NFL draft, picking up Tennessee Volunteers cornerback Kamal Hadden.

The departure of L’Jarius Sneed at the start of the offseason created a vacancy at cornerback on Kansas City’s depth chart. On Saturday, the Chiefs filled that space with a promising young prospect, which may force their current crop of defensive backs to adjust their roles heading into 2024.

As a senior in 2023, Hadden started the first seven games of the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He tallied 19 tackles, three interceptions, and a touchdown in a shortened year.

This selection signals that general manager Brett Veach is emphasizing the importance of creating takeaways on defense.

As Kansas City continues to prepare for their title defense in 2024, Veach has done his best to ensure that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have plenty of weapons in the secondary next season.

Kamal Hadden selected by Kansas City in 2024 NFL draft

Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden selected in the sixth-round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL draft is taking place Thursday-Saturday around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan.

Former Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden was selected by Kansas City in the sixth round (No. 211 overall) on Saturday.

Hadden appeared in 23 games for the Vols from 2021-23. He recorded six interceptions, one touchdown, 87 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 18 pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

Hadden’s Tennessee career ended prematurely after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery after the Vols’ loss at Alabama on Oct. 26, 2023.

The 6-foot-1, 197-pound defensive back transferred to Tennessee from Independence Community College. He originally signed to play for Auburn.

Hadden is also from River Rouge High School in River Rouge, Michigan.

READ: 2024 NFL draft pick-by-pick analysis

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

NFL draft bio for defensive back Kamal Hadden

Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden is a projected pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL draft will take place Thursday-Saturday around Campus Maritus Park in Detroit, Michigan.

Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden is projected as a 2024 NFL draft pick.

Hadden played for the Vols from 2021-23 after transferring from Independence Community College and originally signing with Auburn.

During his final season at Tennessee, he was tied for a team lead in interceptions (3) and returned one interception for a touchdown.

Hadden started seven games last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He also led Tennessee in pass deflections and recorded 19 tackles, including 13 solo tackles.

In 2022, Hadden appeared in nine games and made six starts. He recorded 51 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, three pass deflections, two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2021, he played in seven games and made two starts, recording 17 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one interception.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Three Vols projected to be selected in seven-round NFL mock draft

Three Vols are projected to be selected in ESPN’s latest seven-round NFL mock draft.

The 2024 NFL draft will take place April 25-27 around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan.

Three former Vols took part in the NFL scouting combine ahead of the draft: Quarterback Joe Milton III, running back Jaylen Wright and defensive back Kamal Hadden. 321 prospects were invited to attend the NFL scouting combine, including 75 players from the Southeastern Conference.

Wright, Hadden and Milton III are projected to be selected in ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft from Matt Miller.

Wright is projected as the No. 80 overall pick by Cincinnati, while Miller has Hadden as the No. 169 selection by Green Bay. The Jets are projected to take Milton III at pick No. 256.

Jaylen Wright. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Vikings 2024 7 round mock draft 7.0: Drafting to bolster the offense

What if the Minnesota Vikings used the NFL Draft to bolster the offense? Tyler Forness explores that exact, yet unlikely, strategy

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of different ways they can go in the NFL draft. There will be some discussion on what needs are most important but the Vikings can address most of them through both free agency and the NFL draft.

Each week throughout the leadup to the NFL draft, I will be doing different seven-round mock drafts for the Vikings as a way to explore different scenarios. You never know who might fall to you and how that could cause a ripple effect and being ready for those situations is paramount come draft weekend.

In the second rendition of our seven-round mock draft series, what could a draft look like that has the Vikings focusing solely on the offensive side of the ball after using free agency to fix the defense?

Mock Draft 1.0
Mock Draft 2.0
Mock Draft 3.0
Mock Draft 4.0
Mock Draft 5.0
Mock Draft 6.0

Three Vols receive 2024 NFL scouting combine invites

Three Vols receive 2024 NFL scouting combine invites.

The NFL scouting combine will take place Feb. 26-March 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana ahead of the NFL draft.

NFL Network and NFL+ will provide coverage of the eight-day event.

On Tuesday, three former Vols received invites to the NFL scouting combine: Quarterback Joe Milton III, running back Jaylen Wright and defensive back Kamal Hadden.

321 prospects have been invited to attend the NFL scouting combine, including 75 players from the Southeastern Conference.

The 2024 NFL draft will take place April 25-27 around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan.

READ: A full list of prospects invited to 2024 NFL scouting combine

Jaylen Wright. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
Kamal Hadden. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Kamal Hadden has season-ending surgery

Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden has season-ending surgery.

Redshirt senior defensive back Kamal Hadden underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.

The 6-foot-1, 197-pound Hadden appeared in seven games for the Vols in 2023, recording 19 tackles, three interceptions, 11 pass deflections and one touchdown.

“I put everything I had in it,” Hadden announced on Instagram. “Just to get right this last round, learning how to not always be right, but also learning how to be right and still make correction to be even better. Learning it’s a right way and it’s a wrong way to situations. I was stuck in my ways for a long time thinking I had all the answers. With time I learned change is apart of growing, and you gotta sacrifice to grow. I was just getting comfortable, the work was just starting to show, I was showing the world what I already knew. My last year, my bag year, and I strike out.

“I feel like I let everybody down. The fam, gang, the team, everybody. But I always took the longer route, I always was in a fight with adversity, I always had it a lil harder, I always wanted it a lil tougher cause at the end the win a lil more greater. This (is) far from over. I’ll be having season ending surgery this morning. The get back start now.”

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

A look back at Tennessee’s win versus Florida in 2022

A look back at Tennessee’s win versus Florida in 2022.

Tennessee first fielded a football team in 1891 and the Vols have played in memorable games throughout its history.

Each week, Vols Wire will recap a memorable game against its upcoming opponent.

In Week 3, Vols Wire looks back at Tennessee’s 38-33 win versus Florida on Sept. 24, 2022 at Neyland Stadium.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker completed 22-of-28 passing attempts, 349 yards and two  touchdowns. He also rushed for 112 yards and one touchdown on 13 attempts.

Running back Jabari Small recorded 90 rushing yards and one touchdown on 19 attempts. He also recorded one touchdown reception.

Bru McCoy was Tennessee’s leading wide receiver, totaling five receptions, 102 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Kamal Hadden recorded five tackles, two assists and one interception.

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Willie Martinez discusses Kamal Hadden’s growth ahead of 2023 season

Tennessee defensive backs coach Willie Martinez discusses Kamal Hadden’s growth ahead of the 2023 season.

Tennessee practiced for the eleventh time during fall training camp on Tuesday at Haslam Field.

Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez met with media following practice and discussed redshirt senior defensive back Kamal Hadden’s growth.

“Consistency, he’s been very consistent since January, every day,” Martinez said. “It’s the small details that matter. He has always been good off the field, but he has really made a point this last spring and summer. He’s just graduated, that’s something really big to accomplish, but he did it with a 3.2 GPA. He’s one of those 75 to 90 guys that were over the 3.0 average, so that’s given him confidence.

“The small details of being healthy enough to get through a spring, it’s his first spring he ever made, last year, since he’s been here. That gave him a chance to develop with his teammates and see where he would be at on a consistent basis, and he showed that through the summer and then now in camp. The consistency, attention to small details, being a good teammate, that’s something that he has grown.”

The 6-foot-1, 197-pound Hadden recorded 68 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, seven pass deflections and two forced fumbles from 2021-22 at Tennessee.

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Auburn transfer Kamal Hadden commits to Tennessee

Tennessee has added a transfer to its football roster.

Tennessee has added a transfer to its football roster.

Junior cornerback Kamal Hadden has transferred to Tennessee from Auburn.

He announced his commitment to the Vols on Twitter Tuesday.

Auburn defensive back Kamal Hadden (19) runs drills during an open football practice at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, March 20, 2021. © Jake Crandall via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound cornerback signed with Auburn on Dec. 16, 2020. He transferred to the Tigers from Independence Community College, totaling 21 tackles, eight pass breakups and forced three fumbles in 2019.

Hadden entered the NCAA transfer portal on May 6.

He is from River Rouge High School in River Rouge, Michigan.

Tennessee will kick off the 2021 season under first-year head coach Josh Heupel on Sept. 2 against Bowling Green at Neyland Stadium.

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