The Chiefs’ breakout players entering the 2026 season could end up playing a major role in how far Kansas City goes this year.
The Chiefs are at the point where roster depth matters almost as much as the stars. Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, and Travis Kelce are still the stars that all ships or players follow. But all great organizations understand that you stay competitive because of the depth of your younger players. Who, through development, eventually grow into bigger roles.
When looking at the roster, three players are poised to stand out as candidates for these larger roles: Peter Woods, Nohl Williams, and Tyquan Thornton.
Peter Woods Could Quickly Become a Key Part of the Defensive Front
The Chiefs landed one of the better value picks in the draft with Peter Woods.
Just a year ago, Woods was viewed by scouts as a top-10 selection before Clemson’s inconsistent season and a heavy run on edge rushers caused him to slide. Kansas City benefited from it because the fit with Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is pretty easy to see.
At 6-foot-2½ and 298 pounds, Woods brings rare movement skills for an interior defensive lineman. He ran a 4.75 forty-yard dash, and that explosiveness shows up quickly on film. His first step consistently stresses guards, especially in obvious passing situations where he can attack upfield immediately.
Woods finished his final Clemson season with 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and two pass breakups while also adding two rushing touchdowns offensively.
But Woods’ production never fully showed how disruptive he could be snap to snap.
He plays with heavy hands and with a real burst off the line. Clemson moved him around often, and were just reps where interior linemen couldn’t get set before Woods was already working across their face. That lateral agility also stood out against the run because he can beat reach blocks and recover quickly when plays bounce outside.
But there are still areas that need development. Woods flashes as a pass rusher, but he will need a more consistent rush plan against experienced NFL guards. At times in college, he relied more on raw athleticism than counters or technique.
Still, the tools are clear and obvious with him.
Spagnuolo moves his fronts constantly, and that is where Woods becomes especially interesting. One snap can look like a standard four-man front, then suddenly Leo Chenal walks onto the edge while Chris Jones loops inside on a stunt. As a defensive line coach, I am excited about this. Kansas City asks defensive linemen to move around frequently, attack gaps, and create confusion up front.
Woods fits naturally into that style because he can line up at multiple spots inside. Kansas City should be able to get him on the field early, especially in passing situations.
That need for another interior disruptor is real, too.
Chris Jones turns 32 in July, and while he remains one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen, there were stretches last season where Kansas City struggled to generate pressure inside when offenses focused protection toward him. That is part of the reason the Chiefs invested in both Woods and R Mason Thomas this offseason.
Of the younger additions, Woods probably has the clearest path to meaningful snaps.
He will not need to carry the defensive line immediately. Veterans like Khyiris Tonga and Omarr Norman-Lott can help stabilize the rotation early while Woods adjusts to NFL speed and technique demands. But in clear passing situations, especially in packages featuring both Woods and Jones inside, it is easy to see where the Chiefs believe he can help quickly.
Nohl Williams Is Positioned for a Bigger Role in the Secondary
Nohl Williams quietly became an important part of the Chiefs’ secondary during the 2025 season.
While he did not record an interception, Kansas City clearly trusted his coverage ability enough to feel comfortable moving on from Jaylen Watson this offseason. Williams played 458 snaps last season and finished with 33 total tackles, 18 solo tackles, and a sack.
The advanced numbers paint an even stronger picture.
Williams earned a 74.5 overall PFF defensive grade, ranking 14th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His 75.6 coverage grade ranked 12th, while his 74.7 run-defense grade ranked 19th at the position.
Those are strong numbers for a young corner still settling into a larger role.
The Chiefs ask a lot from their defensive backs because Spagnuolo’s system relies heavily on disguise and pressure. Kansas City frequently rotates between two-high shells, Cover 4 looks, and late safety rotations while bringing pressure from unexpected places. That leaves corners isolated in man coverage more often than many defenses around the league.
And Williams handled those responsibilities well last season.
With Trent McDuffie traded to the Rams, Kansas City still needs dependable perimeter corners. Williams looks like the leading candidate for that role entering 2026.
There is still room for growth, especially when he is locating the football. But the consistency in his coverage snaps last season was encouraging. If that continues, his role should increase significantly.
Tyquan Thornton Could Finally Have a Stable Opportunity
Tyquan Thornton’s 2025 season was strange in a lot of ways.
Early in the year, he flashed real chemistry with Patrick Mahomes and quickly became one of the team’s most explosive downfield threats. Then the receiver room became crowded again, his snaps dropped, and fans started wondering where he had gone. There was plenty of speculation throughout the season, but very little actual reporting about why his role decreased beyond the roster becoming healthier.
Still, the Chiefs clearly valued what Thornton brought to the offense.
Kansas City re-signed him after the season because his speed changes the structure of defenses. Even in those limited opportunities, Thornton averaged 23.1 yards per catch and led the team in receptions of 25-plus yards.
His full 2025 numbers were:
19 receptions
438 receiving yards
3 touchdowns
475 kick-return yards
The numbers become more impressive when thinking about how inconsistent his playing time was throughout the year.
Now his path to snaps is much clearer.
With Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster no longer on the roster, Thornton is the expected number 3 this year. He can step into a consistent role alongside Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice. The Chiefs do not need him to become a high-volume receiver. What they need is someone who can continue stretching defenses vertically and creating space underneath for the rest of the offense.
Thornton already showed flashes of that last season.
He also now enters the year with more experience in the offense and more chemistry with Mahomes than he had previously. Assuming he stays healthy after finishing last season on injured reserve with a concussion, this feels like the best opportunity of his career to carve out a permanent role in Kansas City’s offense.
Last Word on The Chiefs Breakout Players
Kansas City does not need all three players to become stars. But if Woods improves the interior pass rush rotation, Williams secures a larger role outside, and Thornton becomes that dependable vertical option, the Chiefs solve several important roster concerns internally.
That has been part of the Chiefs’ formula for years. The roster stays competitive because younger players keep stepping into bigger roles before weaknesses start showing up.
Main Photo: [Jay Biggerstaff] – Imagn Images