The Kansas City Chiefs' defensive backfield went through a bit of an overhaul this offseason. Bryan Cook, Jaylen Watson, and Trent McDuffie are no longer in the building, and it'll be a 'next man up' type of season for Andy Reid's team.
With rookie first-round pick Mansoor Delane all but locked in to start in the boundary, the battle for the CB2 spot will be one of the storylines to follow in training camp. Notably, the Chiefs have at least a couple of feasible options there.
However, this should be an easy decision if you were to ask ESPN analyst Ben Solak. In his latest column, he tabbed Nohl Williams as the team's breakout candidate, and he loves his chances against forgotten veteran Kristian Fulton:
"Behind Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, Williams could never be more than third in the rotation. With both gone, he'll be fighting with Kristian Fulton for a starting job opposite 2026 first-rounder Mansoor Delane," wrote Solak.
The Chiefs' CB2 job might be Nohl Williams' to lose
Williams didn't get much of a leash in his first year in the league. However, he looked the part when he was given a chance to step on the gridiron. While he had to wait until the second half of the season to play more than a handful of snaps, he showed glimpses of strong play.
In fact, Solak argued that the Chiefs probably wouldn't have moved on from both McDuffie and Watson if he weren't there. That might be a bit of a reach, but he did log the 15th-highest Pro Football Focus grade among 114 eligible cornerbacks as a rookie (74.5).
Williams held opposing quarterbacks to a 54.2 percent catch rate in the final three games of the season. He also had 14 run stops and showed the football acumen and instincts to be an all-around contributor when given a longer leash. It's just a matter of getting him on the field.
Of course, the Chiefs spent $20 million on the often-injured Kristian Fulton last offseason, so some may argue that he should have the upper hand in this race. That said, he wasn't available often, and Williams' ceiling is significantly higher at this point in their respective careers.
Fulton made eight appearances last season, starting just two games. He didn't force a single turnover, and while he held opposing quarterbacks to a 55.6 catch rate and didn't give up a single touchdown, he's never played a full season in his six-year career.
The Chiefs simply can't put all their hopes in a player who can't seem to stay healthy, especially with a budding star hungry for a bigger role. If given equal opportunities, it will be a huge surprise if Williams loses the CB2 spot to Fulton or anyone else.
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