The Kansas City Chiefs will look to shake things up on both sides of the ball this offseason after failing to make the playoffs for the first time with Patrick Mahomes as the starting quarterback.
The 2025 season was one to forget as the Chiefs went from Super Bowl runner-up in 2024 to a team now picking inside the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft. While the results on the scoreboard were not great, the Chiefs were able to see which veteran players should return next season and which rookies deserve more playing time.
When it comes to the rookies, cornerback Nohl Williams was one of four guys from KC’s 2025 class to play in all 17 games. Williams saw his snaps fluctuate early this season, which didn’t make fans happy, considering that Kristian Fulton was already a free agent bust.
However, with the Chiefs having Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie on the field, there was no room for the rookie cornerback to get consistent playing time. But when Watson and McDuffie got sidelined by injuries, Williams showed over the final weeks of the season that he deserves a bigger role in 2026.
Nohl Williams’ Role in Chiefs’ Secondary Could Get Bigger Heading into 2026
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound rookie defensive back saw an increase in snaps in Week 14 against the Houston Texans, playing a season-high of 62 on defense, along with 20 snaps on special teams. Williams racked up three combined tackles and two pass deflections.
Texans QB C.J. Stroud targeted Williams multiple times throughout the game, but to the rookie’s credit, he held his own. Williams only gave up three receptions (eight targets) for 66 yards. And had a 67.7 passer rating allowed when targeted.
In the Chiefs’ last four games of the season, opposing quarterbacks completed only 61.5% of their passes against Williams, who only allowed one touchdown over that span.Â
Williams’ pass rating allowed was a bit high at 107.5 during that stretch, but if you’re Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo, it’s clear you have a starting-caliber cornerback in the making. And that’s good to know heading into 2026.
It’s not guaranteed that Fulton, who was signed to a two-year, $20 million deal last season, will be back after not playing much this past season. The Chiefs won’t get that much relief by cutting the veteran cornerback, but could create $10 million in cap savings if they were to trade him before or after Jun. 1, per Over The Cap.Â
If Kansas City takes that route, it would only take on $3 million in dead money. Then there’s the uncertainty around Trent McDuffie, whom the Chiefs could trade this offseason, as he’s entering the last year of his rookie deal. McDuffie’s play took a step back this season, which could give KC a pause on paying him CB1 money.
With those two situations alone, the Chiefs could need Williams to step up into a starter role in 2026. Luckily for Reid and Co., the young cornerback has shown that he can hold his own on the outside and be a competitor.