Nohl Williams Has the Chance to Prove He’s More Than a Backup for the Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs went into the offseason with some serious questions on defense. That happens when you trade a guy like Trent McDuffie and lose Jaylen Watson in free agency. Two corners who started meaningful games for a team that just missed the playoffs for the first time since before Patrick Mahomes was the quarterback. So now what?

Well, ESPN’s Ben Solak thinks the answer might already be on the roster. He wrote about Nohl Williams, a third-round pick from Cal who has been stuck behind McDuffie and Watson pretty much his whole career. Solak called Williams “a smart press corner with a nose for the football” and said he’s exactly the kind of player Steve Spagnuolo likes to work with.

Williams hasn’t had much of a chance to show what he can do. But now both starting spots are open, or at least one of them is. He’ll be competing with Kristian Fulton for a job across from Mansoor Delane, who the Chiefs took in the first round in 2026. That’s not a guaranteed starting job for Williams, but it’s the first real opportunity he’s had.

Why This Matters for the Chiefs Defense

Kansas City’s defense was the reason they stayed competitive in a lot of games during their run. But last year, that unit took a step back. They weren’t as disruptive. They gave up plays they used to erase. And when Mahomes went down with that ACL injury, the defense couldn’t carry them the way it had in the past.

Mahomes is expected to be back for the start of next season. But even with him at full strength, the Chiefs need a defense that can hold up. They can’t afford to be in shootouts every week. That means the secondary has to be functional, and Williams has to prove he belongs.

He’s got the right skill set for Spagnuolo’s scheme. Press coverage, good instincts, willingness to tackle. The question is whether he can handle the jump from third corner to starter-level reps. Not everyone can. But the Chiefs are betting he can, or at least they’re giving him the chance to try.

There’s no guarantee Williams will win that starting job. Fulton has NFL experience and has shown flashes. Delane was a high pick for a reason. But if Williams takes the next step, the Chiefs could end up with a reliable corner they developed internally. And that would go a long way toward fixing some of the issues that derailed their 2025 season.

Training camp will tell us a lot. For now, the opportunity is there. Williams just has to grab it.