The Kansas City Chiefs officially signed third-round draft pick Nohl Williams on Monday, making him the sixth of their seven 2025 draft selections to reach a deal with the team.
The rookie cornerback, selected No. 95 overall out of UNLV, wasted no time making his ambitions known.
“I didn’t come here to just make the roster,” Williams told reporters after inking his rookie contract.
“I came here to start. I’m going to be this team’s starting corner.”
It’s a bold declaration for a third-rounder, but one that perfectly fits Kansas City’s defensive culture — where confidence and competition go hand in hand.
The case for Nohl Williams
Williams brings physicality, length, and man-to-man prowess that Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo values in his secondary. At 6’1″ and 195 pounds, he fits the mold of an outside press corner and plays with the kind of edge that KC fans have grown to love.
During his final season at UNLV, Williams posted 3 interceptions, 9 pass breakups, and a 56.4% completion rate allowed when targeted. Scouts praised his instincts, timing, and fearlessness in one-on-one coverage.
“He doesn’t back down from any matchup,” one AFC scout told ESPN. “He’s going to push every vet on that depth chart.”
Currently, the Chiefs’ starting corners include Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed, but with Sneed’s future uncertain and free agents in the mix, the door isn’t closed for an aggressive rookie to climb.
Smart planning by Kansas City
With Williams now under contract, the Chiefs have signed all but one of their 2025 draft class — only first-round WR Xavier Worthy remains unsigned. Still, the team is expected to finalize that deal before training camp.
“We’re excited about Nohl,” GM Brett Veach said. “He’s exactly the type of player we look for: hungry, fearless, and ready to compete.”
Whether or not Williams earns a starting role out of the gate remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: he’s not here to wait quietly. He’s here to take his shot.
