We have entered Kansas City Chiefs roster battle season, and cornerback Joshua Williams stands out as a steady contributor who could be cut or traded after training camp and the preseason.
The NFL can be the biggest numbers game in sports sometimes, and this is one of those times.
On July 1, Arrowhead Pride analyst Jared Sapp explained why Williams could find himself as the odd man out at the 53-man roster cutdown in a couple of months.
Chiefs’ Offseason Has Put Cornerback Joshua Williams in a ‘Precarious’ Spot Ahead of Roster Cuts
“The Chiefs rebuilt their secondary in 2022 with half of the team’s 10 draft selections devoted to defensive backs,” Sapp first reminded readers. “As four members of the quintet enter the final season of their rookie contracts, their snaps are becoming more expensive.”
Williams, in particular, has a non-guaranteed $3.4 million salary that is “disproportionate to his role,” per Sapp.
“Earlier in the offseason, we looked at a mandatory raise Williams earned due to high defensive snap counts in 2022 and 2024, while the Chiefs managed injuries to Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, respectively,” the analyst noted. Adding: “Upon Watson returning for the playoffs in January, Williams did not see a postseason defensive snap.”
“The offseason has made his hold on his roster spot somewhat precarious after the Chiefs traded up to the 85th selection in April’s draft to select former California cornerback Nohl Williams,” Sapp went on. They also signed veteran free agent Kristian Fulton.
On top of the two newcomers joining the CB room, Sapp pointed out that fellow 2022 draft pick Nazeeh Johnson “agreed to a reduced contract with Kansas City in March,” which “guaranteed $1.2 million of his earnings.”
To reiterate, Williams has no salary guarantees in 2025 despite a cap hit that is a little over $3.572 million.
“Williams will certainly have a chance in camp and the preseason to make his case to stay with the Chiefs, but he should currently be seen as a strong candidate to be traded or cut after the preseason,” Sapp finally concluded. “Absent a transaction note of a reduced salary, the math is unlikely to be on his side.”
Could Chiefs Trade Joshua Williams to a CB-Needy Team Like the Dolphins?
There’s no reason to rush a trade now in early July, but Williams could certainly be someone KC shops later on, assuming they stay healthy throughout camp.
Although Williams would make for an expensive CB4 or CB5, he’s talented enough to push for a starting job on a cornerback-needy team. And in a larger role, his sub-$4 million cap hit makes him inexpensive.
The Miami Dolphins stand out as one potential trade suitor, being that they just sent Jalen Ramsey packing, but there are others. Cornerback has become one of the more important NFL positions, and Williams is good enough to garner some interest at age 25.
Since being drafted in 2022, Williams has appeared in 60 Chiefs outings, including the playoffs. Of course, he’s also been a part of two Super Bowl champion teams, and he’s started a total of 12 games.
Typically, Williams has been the first CB off the bench for Kansas City in recent years. He’s held his own when called upon, but has had some issues with penalties (13 flags over three seasons) and overall consistency.
The former fourth-round pick also struggled as a tackler in 2024, with a porous 19.4% missed tackle rate according to Pro Football Focus.
As Sapp alluded, Williams could stick around if he is willing to take a pay cut, but the Chiefs might be better off trading him now and getting something back for him before he hits free agency next offseason. The veteran CB turns 26 years old in October.
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