The Kansas City Chiefs have a big, new wave of talent coming to the defense after the significant investment in that side of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the revamped unit has a class of sophomores that may be just as important in the short term.
Among the four defensive players drafted in 2025, two are projected to enter Year 2 as starters after ascending in a limited role last season. Defensive end Ashton Gillotte and cornerback Nohl Williams played through the learning curve in understanding
the complexities of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
The veteran coach deploys game plans and strategies that take time to get comfortable with, regardless of a newcomer’s prior experience. The duo of second-year players are feeling the mental relief of having a season’s worth of reps now.
In a press conference during mandatory minicamp, cornerback Nohl Williams expressed that to reporters.
“[I’m] for sure way more comfortable than last year,” Williams said. “The terminology is easier, it’s more ingrained into my brain now. Scheme, the second year in the defense, you should catch on or you’re not studying.”
“I just saw a lot of growth in my play,” Williams said later. “I got more confident in myself, as the games went on, all the way back to the Raiders game.”
The Week 7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders marked Williams’ first game playing the majority of available defensive snaps (69%). He would end up playing six more, including a performance with two passes defended against the Houston Texans and star receiver Nico Collins in Week 14.
It’s not just the players themselves who believe they can take their games to the next level. In a press conference during OTAs, defensive end George Karlaftis told reporters he expects Gillotte to take a step forward.
Good friend of the site, Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star, asked Gillotte about what that does for the young edge rusher’s confidence in a press conference during mandatory minicamp.
“Gives me a lot,” Gillotte responded. “I didn’t talk to him too much last year, because I was trying to respect his space, I didn’t want to be like ‘George, please help me.’”
Gillotte smiled through the comedic twist on rookie anxiety, but it wasn’t a joke. More confident, open communication between the two starting defensive ends will only benefit the players and the team.
That can help last year’s third-round pick continue the momentum he finished the season with. Gillotte totaled 1.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits in 2025, but had just one quarterback hit to his name after the Chiefs’ first eight games.
The improvement over the schedule was apparent to spectators, but Gillotte claims to be, and always has been, his “worst critic.” He told reporters about how he didn’t think he moved like himself or play how he wanted to when he reviewed his performance.
“When you watch yourself on film, sometimes, you’re not moving as well as you think,” Gillotte elaborated. “Sometimes the game is hitting you faster than you think… it gets to a point, sometimes, where you’re just overanalyzing yourself.”
“Last year, [I was] overthinking a lot of things,“ Gillotte reflected. ”Trying to make sure I’m doing the right things. Now, I get a little bit more freedom, so I should be able to pick up the pace and add on.”
While the defensive lineman will need to wait for the pads to come on in training camp to show off his improvement, Williams has already taken advantage of at least one seven-on-seven team period this offseason.
On the first day of mandatory minicamp, Williams snagged an interception while also breaking up multiple passes, according to Chiefs Senior Team Reporter Matt McMullen. Williams was asked about the play, revealing the interception came against quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“I think I saw Xavier [Worthy] coming across the formation,” Williams remembered. “Mahomes can extend the play. I had nothing to the flat, so I just kind of squeezed the formation, and he threw it up.”
While Chiefs fans may have felt some excitement about the offseason highlight, it didn’t move the second-year cornerback.
“It’s a good play, but onto the next,” Williams said bluntly. “You’ve got to do it again, you’re only as good as your last.”
Both Gillotte and Williams are unsatisfied with what they have proven so far in their NFL careers. That fits right in with an organization unhappy with how the 2025 season went. The Chiefs will be looking to prove doubters wrong, and that mentality is being embraced by two of the team’s youngest starters on defense.
