Kansas City Chiefs could finally get a glimpse of what fans were robbed of last season with a potential starter
The Kansas City Chiefs have a very young and bright cornerback corps, and Nohl Williams is a huge part of that.
The Kansas City Chiefs‘ secondary looks different heading into 2026, and second-year cornerback Noah Williams sits at the center of the conversation. After trading Trent McDuffie and watching Jaylen Watson leave the building, Kansas City is banking on young talent to fill the void.
Williams, who flashed in limited action as a rookie, could be the biggest beneficiary of the shakeup. ESPN’s Benjamin Solak believes a breakout is coming for the former Day 2 pick.
Solak wrote that Williams earned his stripes during a challenging rookie campaign.
“He took his rookie lumps last season, but he had plenty of splashy moments against legitimate NFL receivers,” Solak said. “I’d go so far as to say Williams’ work as a rookie was part of the reason the Chiefs felt so comfortable letting McDuffie and Watson out of the building. He’s the next man up.”
That framing matters. Kansas City didn’t just lose McDuffie through free agency. The Chiefs actively traded him, a signal that the front office trusts what it has behind him. Williams is the primary reason that trust exists.
Williams could climb to CB2 in a revamped secondary
The Chiefs addressed the cornerback position early in the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting Mansoor Delane, widely considered the best cornerback in the class. Delane steps into the CB1 role immediately given his draft capital. That leaves Williams in direct competition for the CB2 spot, a role that carries significant responsibility in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
Chiefs fans spent most of last season begging for more snaps for Williams. Every time he made a play, he seemed to get pulled from the field. The frustration was real, and the flashes were undeniable. Now, with McDuffie gone and a rookie in Delane learning the NFL game, Williams should see the consistent playing time that eluded him as a rookie.
Kansas City’s secondary philosophy remains unchanged
The Chiefs have operated with a fascinating approach to their secondary for years. They develop cornerbacks, ride them for a few seasons, and then let them walk rather than paying for a second contract. The trend stretches back years. McDuffie became the latest example when Kansas City traded him rather than extending him.
That philosophy has worked because the Chiefs keep finding the next wave of talent. Williams fits squarely into that cycle. He has the physical traits to be an elite cornerback in this league. The question is whether one season of development was enough to prepare him for a full-time role.
Delane will face his own growing pains as a rookie, which means the entire secondary will be young and learning together. That reality makes Williams’ development even more critical. If he takes a genuine leap in year two, Kansas City’s secondary could remain competitive despite losing two proven starters.
Can Williams deliver on the promise?
The talent is there. Williams showed enough last season to convince the front office that moving on from McDuffie wouldn’t cripple the defense. Now he has to prove that bet right over 17 regular-season games and, if things go well, deep into the postseason.
A breakout season from Williams would once more validate the Chiefs’ roster-building model in the secondary. Kansas City has made a habit of cycling through cornerbacks without missing a beat, and Williams has every opportunity to be the next success story in that pipeline.