Over the last decade, there has been no better team than the Kansas City Chiefs when it comes to developing young defensive backs. With numerous examples of guys like L'Jarius Sneed, Charvarius Ward, Jaylen Watson, and many more guys taken on day three of the draft who have become full-time starting corners in Kansas City.
Now, the Chiefs will likely be in the market to add talent to the secondary again this offseason, with Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams hitting free agency, as well as Trent McDuffie still without a contract extension.
Kansas City did add Nohl Williams in the third round of this year's draft out of Cal and also signed Kristan Fulton to a two-year deal, which could give them some options. With that in mind, it is likely they will look to add cornerback talent again, especially if they are not able to reach a deal on an extension with McDuffie.
With the future of the team's CB room uncertain, here's a look at four potential options for the Chiefs in the 2026 NFL draft.
1. Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
At the end of the 2024 season, Davison Igbinosun was maybe my favorite prospect in the draft, but he elected to return to school for 2025. Igbinosun would be a perfect fit in Kansas City with his elite man coverage skills, athleticism, and swagger about his skill set. He has a great mentality and knows no one can beat him in man coverage, and in the blitz-heavy defense the Chiefs run, that mindset will serve him well. There are some concerns that he can get grabby in coverage, but that is something he can work out, and I have confidence he will be a very good man-to-man outside corner in the NFL.
2. Will Lee III, Texas A&M
Will Lee III is exactly the type of corner that the Chiefs love to target, with a big frame and tons of athleticism. After high school, Lee struggled to receive high-quality D1 offers and elected to attend JUCO before committing to Kansas State for the 2023 season. He found a lot of success in Manhattan and elected to hit the transfer portal to see his interest at other programs. Lee found his way to College Station to play for Texas A&M in 2024, where he continued his success and demonstrated that he is one of the most skilled and athletic corners in college football.
3. Domani Jackson, Alabama
Jackson was one of my favorite players in the 2025 class, and I had a first-round grade on him before he decided to return to Alabama in 2025. Jackson is very possibly the best athlete in the entire class with elite speed and size for the corner position. We all know about Jackson's size and impressive frame, but what puts him over the top is his blazing speed. Jackson was a track star and was one of the best 100-meter sprinters in the nation, winning the California state championship and setting a state record. Jackson is not just a player with straight-line speed, but also possesses quickness and physicality that enable him to be sticky in coverage and make plays on the ball. Jackson is one of my favorite players in the class, and I look forward to seeing his skills on full display in 2025.
4. Tony Grimes, Purdue
Grimes may not be viewed as one of the top prospects in this year's draft, but he could be a steal in the later rounds. Out of high school, Grimes was a four-star recruit, with some places having him as a five-star recruit as well. He was widely viewed as a top-five corner in the 2020 high school class, but has struggled to gain much attention. Grimes is an elite athlete with good speed and size, but has struggled somewhat as a tackler, especially in the open field. Grimes spent his first three college seasons at North Carolina, played his last season at UNLV, and will spend his last season at Purdue. Grimes is a great athlete, and his coverage skills will make him a valuable late target.