The Kansas City Chiefs coordinators and DL Chris Jones speak to media on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, a couple days before they face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football, in Jacksonville. By Dominick Williams
Through four weeks of the 2025 season, it sure looks as though Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has done it again. Since taking over as GM in 2018, Veach and his staff have shown a knack for landing quality defensive backs within the mid-to-late rounds of the NFL Draft.
In this year’s draft, Veach sent the fourth-round pick he acquired from the Chicago Bears to the New England Patriots so that the Chiefs could select Nohl Williams out of California in Round 3.
Though KC defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has his qualms about Pro Football Focus’ grading system, the fact that Williams currently stands as the highest-graded defensive back in the NFL speaks volumes about his early progress.
“He’s done a really nice job for us,” Spagnuolo said. “Early in the year, he stuck out to me on special teams. …
“He’s a physical guy — was physical in training camp. There was a little bit of a rough beginning because it was kind of different to him, but I think he’s settled in. He’s playing more confident, which is probably the first thing you need out there.”
Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Nohl Williams runs a drill during minicamp at the team’s training facility on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel/file photo ecuriel@kcstar.com
When training camp opened in late July, Williams mostly repped with the second team, going up against backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. But as the preseason carried along, he began seeing handfuls of reps against starting QB Patrick Mahomes and the first team.
Mahomes noticed Williams’ upside early on.
“Usually, I have a pretty good feel — especially the DBs and stuff like that,” Mahomes said. “He’s in the right spot all the time, and he’s in the right coverage. He has a good instinct for being around the football, and I think that’s something that’s hard to learn.
“You kind of have that or you don’t. He’s done a great job. I haven’t been able to watch a ton of their film, but I’m watching the coverages that I’ve seen, and he’s done a great job this year. And I think he’ll continue to get better.”
In his final season at Cal, Williams led all of FBS with seven interceptions. While he has yet to corral a pick as a pro, he’s allowed just two receptions on eight targets, breaking up passes while matched one-on-one against the likes of Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith and Ravens receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Referencing his respect for Hopkins, the former Chief, Spagnuolo said plays like that are boosting Williams’ confidence. “That’s everything,” veteran Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie added. “I remember first getting here as a rookie, you’re playing in this mindset of, ‘I have to prove myself. Can I really play in the NFL?’
“The more you make plays out there, the more your confidence grows, and the more that the coaches trust you. At the end of the day, that’s really what you want.”
The coaches have trusted Williams enough to increase his playing time every week, especially in the absence of Kristian Fulton, who has been out the last two weeks with a lingering ankle injury. Williams only played special teams against the Chargers in the opener, but over the last three games, he has seen his snap percentage rise from 13.3% against the Eagles to 28.8% against the Giants and 36.4% against the Ravens.
Williams’ ability to play outside right away has allowed Spagnuolo greater versatility with McDuffie.
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Nohl Williams (No. 20) runs through drills during the team’s practice on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Kansas City. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
“When we do put Nohl out there, we’re able to put Trent inside, which we all know we like Trent in there,” Spagnuolo said. “We like (safety) Chamarri (Conner) in there as well, but when we can get three corners out there in the game — and that’s dictated by down and distance — and so when we get in those situations, if Nohl can keep playing well and Jaylen (Watson) can keep playing well, we can get Trent inside there.”
McDuffie has taken notice of Williams’ early growth, especially in press coverage.
“I feel like the confidence really came in his man-to-man coverage,” McDuffie said. “During OTAs, his zone coverage (was strong) — he has really good eyes, good ball skills — but I know over training camp we wanted to work (on) less holding, less grabbing, less penalties.
“Over these past three or four weeks he’s done a great job at getting his hands lower and the technique in his press. I think that’s allowed for his confidence to grow.”
With Fulton still questionable this week, Williams is likely see his snap percentage keep rising against the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Monday night. If he keeps playing at this level, Spagnuolo and company could face a good problem once Fulton is healthy enough to return.