Pro Football Rumors
The Chiefs have largely avoided making big-money commitments to cornerbacks, even in the case of homegrown players. That trend continued in the spring, with Trent McDuffie being traded away and Jaylen Watson departing in free agency.
Cornerback remains a question mark for Kansas City entering training camp. As ESPN’s Nate Taylor writes, padded practices beginning later this month will represent the first time every contender for a starting gig is on the field. Injuries kept a number of players in that regard sidelined through spring work.
That includes Mansoor Delane. The No. 6 pick from April’s draft was able to participate in OTAs but not minicamp in June while dealing with a shoulder injury. Delane is expected to be fully healed in time for training camp. The LSU product is in position to handle a full-time starting role, with the same likely being true of 2025 third-rounder Nohl Williams.
“For sure, [I’m] way more comfortable than last year,” Williams said when speaking about his approach to the upcoming campaign. “The terminology is easier. It’s more ingrained into my brain now, the scheme. The second year in the defense, you should catch on or you’re not studying.”
A step forward from Williams – who made 17 appearances and five starts as a rookie – would be key for Kansas City. As Taylor notes, he is likely to compete for the other first-team boundary corner spot with Kristian Fulton. The six-year veteran was limited to eight games during his debut Chiefs campaign, but he should be a full participant in training camp as well.
Fourth-round rookie Jadon Canady saw reps at slot corner during spring practices, Taylor notes. In spite of that, he adds Christian Roland-Wallace should have pole position for the starting nickel role once camp begins. Roland-Wallace has totaled 28 appearances across two seasons in Kansas City, and he has drawn strong reviews in a limited defensive role. The former UDFA’s workload could increase in 2026, depending on how training camp and the preseason play out.
The Chiefs ranked 12th against the pass in 2025. Improvement on that figure this season will of course depend in large part on the play of the team’s new-look secondary, making the competition for cornerback positions one to monitor closely.
