As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for the 2025 NFL season, the grueling process of trimming their 90-man roster to a lean 53 players is underway. With the preseason looming, tough decisions are inevitable, and one former draft pick is facing the chopping block. Joshua Williams, a fourth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, may be seeing his final days in Kansas City as the team prepares to make cold-blooded roster cuts.
A Promising Start Fades
Selected 135th overall out of Fayetteville State, Joshua Williams was once viewed as a Day 3 gem for the Chiefs. Over three seasons, he appeared in 50 games, amassing 91 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, and six pass defenses. His contributions on special teams were particularly notable early on, logging 921 snaps and earning a 68.4 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade on 256 special teams snaps in his rookie year of 2022. However, his performance has since declined, with PFF grades dropping to 65.8 in 2023 and a lackluster 61.0 in 2024.
Williams’s versatility and athleticism made him a valuable depth piece, but his recent struggles have raised red flags. A troubling trend of penalties has further dimmed his prospects. In 2023, he was flagged three times (one declined) on special teams, and in 2024, he racked up five penalties, placing him among the league’s most penalized special teamers, trailing only Kris Boyd (seven) and C.J. Goodwin (six). These missteps have eroded his standing on a roster brimming with talent.
Fierce Competition at Cornerback
The Chiefs’ cornerback room is a crowded one, and Williams finds himself buried on the depth chart. Despite Kansas City’s struggles at the position last season, prompting the offseason signing of Kristian Fulton, Williams remains a third-string option at best. Even with Fulton sidelined by a knee injury, Williams trails behind Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, Kevin Knowles, and rookie third-round pick Nohl Williams for a roster spot.
The numbers don’t lie: with such depth, the Chiefs can afford to be ruthless. Williams’s overall PFF grades—63.0 in 2022, 74.4 in 2023, and 64.3 in 2024—reflect a player who has been serviceable but not exceptional. His diminishing special teams production and penalty issues only make his case weaker as the preseason unfolds.
Three Weeks to Defy the Odds
As the Chiefs prepare for their preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Williams has just three weeks to prove he belongs. Every snap, whether on defense or special teams, will be under scrutiny. A standout performance could force the Chiefs’ coaching staff, led by Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, to reconsider his value. However, the odds are stacked against him in a roster crunch that shows no mercy.
The Chiefs’ front office has a history of making calculated decisions, prioritizing long-term success over sentimentality. Williams, once a promising prospect, now faces the harsh reality of the NFL’s cutthroat nature. Unless he delivers a remarkable preseason, his time in Kansas City may end unceremoniously, marking the end of a journey that began with high hopes in 2022.
The Bigger Picture
Kansas City’s roster decisions reflect the relentless pursuit of a third consecutive Super Bowl title. With stars like Patrick Mahomes and a bolstered secondary, the Chiefs are unwilling to carry players who can’t elevate their game. Williams’s potential departure underscores the brutal reality of the NFL: even draft picks with solid resumes can be discarded when the numbers don’t add up.
As the preseason unfolds, all eyes will be on Williams and other bubble players fighting for their NFL lives. For Joshua Williams, it’s do-or-die time in Kansas City—no mercy.