The Kansas City Chiefs will have a new starting cornerback tandem on the outside for the 2026 NFL season. Last week, the Kansas City traded two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal, sending shockwaves around the league.
Then on Monday, the Chiefs saw Jaylen Watson depart the kingdom to join McDuffie in the City of Angels. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 27-year-old Watson signed a three-year deal with the Rams.
Losing two starting cornerbacks to start an offseason is not ideal, but the Chiefs have the perfect replacement for these departures in Nohl Williams. Williams, who was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft, quickly made a name for himself as a rookie and showed the Chiefs’ coaching staff that he could be a starter.
Nohl Williams Has Golden Opportunity in Front of Him in the Chiefs’ Secondary
The 6'1", 200-pound cornerback didn’t play much throughout the first eight weeks of the season, despite the clear talent he showed when given a chance.Â
That said, the Chiefs gave him his first NFL start in Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills. The rookie cornerback racked up seven combined tackles and gave up 75 yards on two completions (two targets). He also had a 118.7 passer rating when targeted, which wasn’t ideal, but rather a good starting point to build from.
However, the Chiefs had other ideas as Williams received seven total defensive snaps in their next three games. Needless to say, Kansas City had no choice but to go back to Williams in Week 14 against the Houston Texans, where he played 62 defensive snaps.
Williams played 88 percent of defensive snaps over the final five games of the season, which Kansas City needed due to injuries to McDuffie and Watson. During that stretch, Williams had a 52.4 percent allowed on targets, a 92.4 passer rating when targeted, and only gave up one touchdown.
Williams’ play in the final weeks of the regular season likely played a part in Kansas City’s decisions to change up their cornerback room. Not only is he a solid cornerback in coverage, as evidenced by his 75.6 grade, per Pro Football Focus. But Williams isn’t afraid to make a tackle as he had 48 combined tackles, including four for loss.Â
He was also effective in stopping the run as a rookie, posting a 74.7 grade. Looking at Kansas City’s depth chart, Williams has a clear path towards being a full-time starter as Kristian Fulton won’t stand in his way after being a free agent bust in 2025.
Now, the Chiefs could still add a veteran to their secondary, which they should absolutely do for competition and depth reasons. But based on how Williams played in his first season, there’s a lot to love going forward, as the Chiefs turn the page on the Watson era.