Breaking Down the Battle for the KC Chiefs’ No. 3 Cornerback Job
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L'Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie are very clearly solidified as the Kansas City Chiefs' top two cornerbacks. Together, they boast one of the top corner duos in the NFL. However, with how often the Chiefs are in nickel and dime defensive looks, the third cornerback spot is vital. Thankfully for the team, it has two viable options who will battle it out for that role on the roster.
Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson will enter their second year in the NFL when the season rolls around, but they already have plenty of experience. In their rookie campaigns, they were asked to play more prominent roles than most expected and held their own with some spectacular moments added in. They provided stable play throughout the Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning season while rotating in the third cornerback spot. Now, entering their sophomore years, they'll battle for the same position on the depth chart.
Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (23) warms up before Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Chiefs picked Williams earlier than Watson in the 2022 NFL Draft. Many evaluators had them touted similarly coming out of college, but Williams went earlier for a few reasons. He played at Fayetteville State, a small program that didn't present high-level competition. Still, his athletic profile and raw ability at cornerback were enticing enough for someone looking for a cornerback who offers high upside. On the other hand, Watson didn't present the same athletic upside but was more ready to play immediately. We saw that play out during the early portion of the season when he had to start Week 2 against the Chargers, recording the game-winning pick-six.
The high number of early-season snaps continued for Watson as Williams solely played on special teams. After the bye, though, it flipped. Williams was getting most of the snaps, with Watson appearing sporadically. The Chiefs seemed to give Williams a few weeks to get up to NFL speed before putting their project out onto the field. Then it changed again where Watson was getting the majority of the snaps up to the AFC Championship Game. In that game, Sneed went out on the first drive of the series and both rookies were forced into full playing time. Both recorded an interception in that AFC title win, earning them a split-snap rotation in the Super Bowl. Williams played 26 snaps to Watson's 31 in that victory.
Sep 15, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) runs for a touchdown after an interception against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
According to Pro Football Focus, the Fayetteville State product graded better in both run defense and coverage than the former Washington State Cougar. However, there was more trust in Watson than in Williams throughout the season. This presents an exciting battle heading into the summer and, eventually, the season. Where do the Chiefs go with their third corner spot: the upside project or the safe floor?
It will likely come down to Williams's growth over the course of the offseason. Suppose Williams shows the Chiefs coaching staff that he's honed his athletic profile and combined it with a better comfort level. In that case, the decision may be easy because of his ceiling. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has shown a propensity to field the player he trusts most, even if they don't necessarily have the highest ceiling. Watson has that trust at the moment, so he appears to have the edge in the battle heading into training camp. With that said, this is far from set in stone.
Either way, the Chiefs are in a good position. Whether it is Watson or Williams, whoever wins that third cornerback spot will be earned, not handed to them, with the "loser" being a very high-level fourth cornerback for Kansas City. It is one of the rare true positional battles that the Chiefs have, and watching how it develops during the preseason and throughout the regular season should be intriguing. Both guys should improve their play from their rookie campaigns, which is a significant positive moving forward.
