The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have plenty of areas on the roster that need to be addressed, and among them are the need to improve at cornerback, both in finding a long-term starter and improving the depth at the position.
There could be an option there as a late-draft flier in the sixth or seventh round that could serve as a quality reserve with the upside for more: Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden.
Path to the Draft ➡️ @KamalHadden5#NFLVols | #GBO pic.twitter.com/E9njmnvCed
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 23, 2024
The former Tennessee Vol turned in a very impressive 2023 season for the Vols. At least, that is, until he suffered a shoulder injury against Alabama in late October that prematurely ended his season. Hadden posted an 85.8 Pro Football Focus defensive grade up until that point (which was second best on the team's defense up to then), allowing only a 36.4% completion percentage to receivers he was covering. He was deemed an underrated player by AtoZ Sports' draft analyst James Foster.
Kamal Hadden (Tennessee) is an underrated CB in this class. Out of 400 qualifying CBs in 2023:
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 23, 2024
Yards/Tgt: 2.91 (3rd)
Yds/Snap: 0.52 (20th)
Passer Rtg Allowed: 7.0 (1st)
PFF Coverage grade: 90.4 (5th)
Forced Incompletion %: 24.2% (21st) pic.twitter.com/4Fln2teU8y
Hadden has the kind of size you want in a boundary cornerback at 6'1", 200 pounds. He's a physical player who can handle himself well in press coverage. He also has the ability to anticipate where the football is going and make a play.
Kamal Hadden hit the Prime Time Shuffle after the Pick-Six ⚡️ @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/j1MgfVCh4M
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 1, 2023
Hadden projects as a player who could end up going anywhere between the fifth and seventh rounds. With picks in the sixth and seventh round, Hadden could be a prime candidate for a late-draft addition for the Buccaneers. As it stands, the Bucs have Bryce Hall and Zyon McCollum likely vying for the other outside cornerback spot opposite Jamel Dean. Behind those two, there's simply not much there.
Hadden could perhaps make a change for the better in that category for the Buccaneers.
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