The Chiefs’ three-pack of 2022 cornerback draftees has now departed. After the Trent McDuffie trade and Jaylen Watson defection (both are now Rams), Kansas City will lose Joshua Williams.
Williams is on his way to the Titans, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. For the time being, Williams will rejoin former Chiefs teammate L’Jarius Sneed in Tennessee. Sneed is a release candidate, however, as Williams has agreed to a two-year deal. GM Mike Borgonzi was in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted Williams in the 2024 fourth round.
Additionally, the Titans have another deal in place with long snapper Morgan Cox. A 16-year NFL veteran, Cox is one of the most accomplished long snappers in NFL history. The 39-year-old specialist is a five-time Pro Bowler. Tennessee has also agreed to terms with veteran interior O-lineman Austin Schlottmann, according to Pelissero. The veteran interior swingman, who played for Brian Daboll with the Giants, is joining Robert Saleh‘s team on a one-year deal.
McDuffie and Watson worked in front of Williams over the past two seasons, but the Steve Spagnuolo piece still played regularly — though, not so much last season. After logging at least a 31% snap share on defense from 2022-24, Williams saw only 17 defensive snaps last season. Even with McDuffie landing on IR late in the year, Williams remained a special-teamer.
Pro Football Focus ranked Williams as a top-25 option at corner in 2023, when he helped the Chiefs (with Borgonzi in the front office) win Super Bowl LVIII. Williams, who intercepted a pass during the 2022 playoffs, played behind McDuffie and Sneed primarily from 2022-23. He did start 12 games over his first three seasons, and the Titans will take what probably amounts to a flier here.
Williams is by far the lowest-profile player among the three corners Tennessee agreed to add Monday. The cap-rich Titans agreed to terms with Alontae Taylor and Cordale Flott. The team did not see its previous expenditures at corner — Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie — pan out, but neither Borgonzi nor Saleh was there for those misses. The contracts given to Taylor and Flott point to a Sneed cut, and the Titans — should the former Super Bowl starter pass a physical — will save more than $13MM in cap space.