The Kansas City Chiefs reinforced their depth at the cornerback position when they selected Nohl Williams in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Williams is a physical, ball-hawking defender, making him a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system. He has mostly played with the second-team defense throughout training camp, but has also spent a little time with the first-team as veteran CB Kristian Fulton has been on the PUP list.
Williams spoke to the media after Thursday’s practice, and admitted that he’s had his ups and downs during his first pro training camp.
“It’s been ups and downs,” Williams said. “I put myself in uncomfortable situations so I can mess up now and then. Then in the game when the bullets are really flying, I can show out for my team.”
It’s easy to forget that training camp is for learning, and players aren’t always going to look good on every rep, especially rookies. In fact, coaches sometimes purposely put them bad situations just to see how they respond. Williams went on to say that he’s getting more comfortable with each passing day.
“I’m getting comfortable more and more,” Williams said. “The more I study, the more it starts to gel with me. Watching the veterans, they’ve been in the system for a while, so (I’m) just learning from them, picking their brains, and I feel like every day I get a step closer to our goal.”
During his last two collegiate seasons with the California Golden Bears, Williams recorded 105 total tackles, nine interceptions, 15 passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. That type of playmaking ability is what the Chiefs’ defense needs after finishing in the middle of the league in forced turnovers last season. Williams will get his first taste of NFL game action on Saturday when the Chiefs face the Arizona Cardinals.