26-04-2025
Instant analysis: Chiefs trade up to draft Cal Golden Bears DB Nohl Williams in Round 3
Instant analysis: Chiefs trade up to draft Cal Golden Bears DB Nohl Williams in Round 3
On Day 2 of the 2025 NFL draft, the Kansas City Chiefs exclusively targeted players who will be able to help their defense next season.
After picking defensive linemen Omarr Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillotte with the No. 63 and 66 picks, Kansas City chose California Golden Bears defensive back Nohl Williams in Round 3.
The Chiefs had to execute a trade with the New England Patriots to land the No. 85 pick that netted them Williams. In exchange for the No. 85 selection, Kansas City sent New England pick No. 95 and a 2026 fourth-rounder.
Check out what resident draftnik Sam Teets had to say about Williams in a recent Chiefs Scouting Report:
"Williams possesses the physical tools to see playing time early in his NFL career, but he needs to clean up his footwork. He lacks the twitch to recover when his technique breaks down early in plays. He defaults to grabbing and hooking receivers to hide his mistakes.
Williams looks for opportunities to jump routes in zone coverage and quickly closes when routes break in front of him. Unfortunately, he often drifts in coverage and isn't a fast processor post-snap to diagnose route combinations. His ball skills pop at the catch point and helped him amass seven interceptions in 2024.
Williams is one of the more controversial cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL draft. He possesses the physical talent to be a top 100 selection."
The 2025 NFL draft class isn't particularly deep at the cornerback position, so Kansas City's trade up for Williams was necessary to ensure that the Chiefs got a chance to land a new ball hawk.
All in all, Kansas City got good value by picking Williams at No. 85, even if it took a trade to make the selection happen.
