The Kansas City Chiefs overhauled their secondary this offseason, and part of that process was the departure of Josh Williams. With Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson out the door to the Los Angeles Rams, Williams followed suit, leaving town to join the Tennessee Titans on a two-year, $10 million contract, providing the defender a fresh start.
While that sounds like a great opportunity, the Titans may have a bigger plan in mind. Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi spoke to the media during the NFL owners meeting in Arizona, noting that despite his previous connection with Williams from his time in scouting and executive roles with the Chiefs, Williams could face plenty of competition as the draft approaches later this month.
“We are certainly not going to be done adding to that group at all, same thing with the corners, too," Borgonzi said, via Titans senior writer and editor Jim Wyatt. "It will give us some flexibility in the draft.
"But if we see a corner or an edge rusher that we want, just because we went out and spent in free agency, if he is the right value on the board, if he is the best player, we are going to take him."
Titans Draft Plans Could Already Put Joshua Williams's Role in Danger
While one would imagine his expected role was discussed during the negotiating process, Williams may view Borgonzi’s comments as a surprise. Aside from the lucrative contract he signed in free agency, there wasn’t much standing in the way of Williams holding a major role in Tennessee, despite free agent additions of Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott. The Titans’ draft capital proves to be a bigger threat, however, as they own nine picks in the upcoming draft, including the No. 4 overall selection.
While the Titans have been rumored to be interested in Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with that pick, per the NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus mock draft, the franchise has plenty of other options to consider, including LSU’s Mansoor Delane and the University of Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy. The same website’s consensus big board also lists nine corners in the top 60 spots, representing one of the strengths in the draft.
Given Williams’s previous performance with the Chiefs, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Borgonzi is eyeing another corner. A fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft, Williams helped Kansas City win a pair of Super Bowls during his tenure. While there were positive contributions, his tenure also featured mercurial performances, allowing 65 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and 13 penalties (two declined) on 113 targets in coverage, per Pro Football Focus.
Williams also fell out of favor with the Chiefs’ coaching staff and slid down the depth chart, with his stock in Kansas City dipping to the point where the corner saw just 17 defensive snaps during the 2025 season.
That resume makes the Titans' not having full faith in Williams a pretty reasonable decision. It could mean the 26-year-old may have to fight for a spot more than anticipated as he begins his first year in Nashville.