Packers are giving two forgotten Chiefs DBs a surprising second chance

The Green Bay Packers secondary feels rather familiar these days.

While it's uncertain whether any of the former Kansas City Chiefs on the Packers' offseason roster of 90 players will make it onto the 53-man version due before the start of the regular season—including wide receiver Mecole Hardman—it's interesting to see two ex-K.C. defensive backs trying to extend their careers in the NFC North.

The Packers are carrying both cornerback Kamal Hadden and safety Zayne Anderson on the roster these days as they play their final preseason games and host competitions for spots in Jeff Hafley's secondary.

Green Bay is giving some familiar faces a chance to extend their NFL careers.

Chiefs fans will remember Hadden as the team's sixth-round choice in 2024 out of Tennessee. Hadden had a productive final two seasons for the Volunteers and was the sort of physical corner that Steve Spagnuolo loves to see. However, he was given a quick hook in K.C. as others were so clearly passing him by on the depth chart.

By the time the regular season was approaching, seventh-round choice Nic Jones and rookie free agent Christian Roland-Wallace were favored by coaches. That left Hadden without a spot, even on the practice squad, before his rookie season ever began.

The Packers claimed Hadden and put him on their practice squad to start the season, and the corner would remain with the team for the entire season, including two promotions to the active roster that led to minimal special teams reps. He was brought back on a futures deal for this offseason.

As for Zayne Anderson, he came to the Chiefs as an older rookie free agent out of BYU who had a concerning injury history. However, coaches raved about his intelligence and work ethic, and he found his way onto the roster for 7 total appearances in 2021-22.

Anderson earned a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills before the 2023 season, but he would find himself released before the regular season began. The Packers swept in and found a hidden gem in Anderson. Not only did Anderson appear in 10 games in 2023, his first season in Green Bay, but he would go on to start two games (and play in 16) in 2024.

At this point, both players have dealt with injuries in the Packers preseason—Hadden with a hip, and Anderson with a knee injury—but Anderson is still projected to make the team's roster out of camp once again. As for Hadden, it remains to be seen, but maybe Green Bay can provide a home on the practice squad for a second season.