If Joshua Williams makes the leap this year, it will be hard to know exactly how much credit for some fans to give him.
That's not to say that Williams is not talented or that he hasn't held tantalizing potential all along for the Kansas City Chiefs. It's just that Williams, a third-year cornerback tasked with a greater role in this year's secondary, would be the latest developmental success story for a franchise becoming increasingly known for such talents.
Pro Football Focus recently set out their list of potential breakout players for each team for the '24 campaign and Williams was their choice from the Chiefs.
In case you've missed some of the larger transactions of the last couple of offseasons for the Chiefs, the team has watched high-caliber corners depart in successive seasons. Free agency claimed Charvarius Ward last year via a multi-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. This year, a trade of L'Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans leaves the Chiefs with another significant departure from a bright young defense.
Few teams could stomach the loss of two of the NFL's top corners in back to back seasons. How will the Chiefs hold up?
On paper, the Chiefs traded Sneed in part because they believed they could weather the storm. The team's defensive coaches have coached up developmental prospects for several seasons now—beyond just Ward and Sneed—although the talent ceiling for those players is something that's hard to mimic. Dave Merritt, the team's secondary coach, deserves considerable credit for his work, especially.
As for Williams, he's a former fourth-round pick out of Fayetteville State from the 2022 NFL Draft. The Chiefs took him as a lengthy corner with tools who grow into an impressive pass defender in Steve Spagnuolo's scheme. Williams earned immediate playing time as a rookie as a rotational part, but played less snaps in his sophomore season with the emergence of Sneed and Trent McDuffie as an impact duo atop the depth chart.
Without Sneed, the road ahead is clear for Williams even with McDuffie back. Jaylen Watson is a natural pick to slot outside opposite Williams as McDuffie settles into the slot. There are other contenders, to be sure, and it's also possible the Chiefs add a veteran to the mix of competitors. But Williams has two years of experience and the upside to make it happen.
