There are nine games in the books — with eight more to go. The Kansas City Chiefs are taking their bye week in Week 10, so it’s time to dish out some midseason awards.
10 Arrowhead Pride contributors voted to award seven midseason awards. In this post, we’ll reveal our top defensive rookie to this point of the season.
CB – Nohl Williams
VOTING: CB Nohl Williams (9), DE Ashton Gillotte (1)
The Arrowhead Pride staff nearly unanimously selected rookie cornerback Nohl Williams as the Chiefs’ top defensive rookie at the bye. The lone dissenting vote went to defensive end Ashton
Gillotte.
A third-round pick (No. 85 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft, Williams arrived in Kansas City with a well-traveled college resume. He spent three seasons at UNLV (2020–2022) before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, where he closed out his collegiate career with two strong seasons in the Pac-12. That combination of experience and growth helped prepare him for the NFL learning curve — and so far, the rookie has made the most of his opportunity.
Through nine games, Williams has logged 148 defensive snaps. What’s stood out most is his ability to play tight man coverage on the outside — a trait that has brought valuable flexibility to Kansas City’s secondary. With Williams holding up on the perimeter, All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie has shifted inside to the slot a lot more this year, where his instincts and versatility are best utilized. That alignment has helped defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo maximize matchups and maintain coverage balance across personnel groupings.
Statistically, Williams has recorded 22 total tackles (10 solo) and three passes defensed. He’s been flagged for just two penalties — still an encouraging figure for a rookie cornerback adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams holds an 86.4 coverage grade and an overall defensive grade of 72.6 entering Week 10.
Physically confident and quick to diagnose, Williams fits the mold of what Spagnuolo covets in an outside corner: aggressive in man coverage, capable in zone coverage and unafraid to challenge throws at the catch point. He’s shown poise in high-leverage moments and hasn’t looked overwhelmed by the bright lights — a promising sign for a first-year defensive back.
At just 23 years old, Williams is still growing into his role, but the early impact is undeniable. His emergence has given the Chiefs meaningful depth in the secondary — and a potential long-term answer on the boundary.
