The Kansas City Chiefs will likely have an offseason overhaul after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. As part of the moves, some familiar faces could be shown the door. But in the NFL, one team’s trash could easily be another team’s treasure in free agency.
That could be the case with Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams. Serving mainly as a depth piece since entering the NFL in 2022, Williams’s tenure with the Chiefs has been up and down. But the bright spots in his game could entice some other teams to take the risk and create a bigger market than many are expecting for the 26-year-old when he enters free agency next month.
Joshua Williams Could Have Bigger Market Than Expected in Free Agency
In his four seasons, Williams has accomplished his primary goal of slowing down opposing receivers. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams has allowed 65 catches for 767 yards and nine touchdowns, along with two interceptions and 13 pass breakups on 113 targets. While the amount of touchdowns is high, Williams has been solid in coverage overall, averaging a 71.1 grade over his first four seasons.
The downside has been his tackling. With 13 total missed tackles during his career, he’s logged a 12.0 percent missed tackle rate that would have ranked 51st among 121 qualifiers in 2025. He’s also coming off an injury-plagued season in which he suffered a hamstring injury during training camp last summer after dealing with chest and hamstring injuries during the 2024 campaign.
As a result, Williams could never climb the depth chart in Kansas City, appearing in 65 games over four seasons but starting just 12. Last season also featured the lowest defensive usage rate of his career, as Williams played a career-low 17 defensive snaps and made just six total tackles in 15 games.
With Trent McDuffie and Kristian Fulton under contract for the 2026 season, it’s unlikely Williams will get an increased role if he stays in Kansas City. Rookie Nohl Williams also jumped Josh Williams on the depth chart, meaning that he’d have to look elsewhere if he doesn’t want to fight for a roster spot during training camp.
The good news is that teams should be interested in Williams thanks to his coverage ability. A team like the Chicago Bears could be a possibility as they look for a cheaper alternative to Nahshon Wright. The Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, and Tennessee Titans could also be looking for cornerback depth, and even if there are warts to his game, Williams is good enough to compete for a reserve role on another team.
The defensive back should still be cheap enough that he doesn’t price himself out of Kansas City. But with such a low defensive usage rate a year ago, the writing is on the wall for Williams to find a new team.