Jaylen Watson’s grip on Chiefs starting job may already be slipping

The Kansas City Chiefs have quietly been one of the more consistent secondaries over the last handful of seasons. Mainly due to players with lower draft pedigrees or smaller contracts, Kansas City has been able to frustrate pass catchers and quarterbacks. Much of that can be attributed to the fact that the Chiefs play tight and physical at cornerback. To boot, there are rarely any times when the defensive backs are caught out of position.

How the Chiefs choose to utilize their defensive backs in 2025 will be one of the more intriguing parts of their defense. Trent McDuffie is unquestionably the best DB on the team. But with him likely manning most of his snaps in the slot, the outside cornerback roles and safety snaps could be heavily contested. One mainstay who has largely been a key contributor is Jaylen Watson.

Watson has been able to create pass breakups and help get the Chiefs off the field for much of his time with Kansas City. But with where Kansas City sits at the position entering 2025, his status could feel different for this upcoming campaign. Will Watson face more pressure to maintain his starting role on the outside?

The Chiefs made a couple of new additions to the cornerback room for 2025. Kristian Fulton was signed on a low-cost deal after his lone season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, Nohl Williams is a name that Kansas City traded up for in the third round of this year's draft.

With those names in mind, both Fulton and Williams are names that fit the heavy man coverage style that Steve Spagnuolo likes to incorporate. Watson has been able to have success in man coverage, due to his length and nose for the football. But overall, Kansas City may look to be selective with his reps, because of those new additions.

If Watson cannot maintain positive results on the outside, his chances could decrease this year. This may not even be due to an immediate decline in play. Instead, Watson is entering the last year of his rookie deal. The Chiefs have been well documented when it comes to not extending cornerbacks or paying them heavily under this regime.

If any slight slip-ups occur for Watson, Kansas City could look to phase him out or lower his opportunities. This would provide more chances for Fulton to cash in. Or, Williams could be given a chance to prove himself early on in his NFL career.

Jaylen Watson could face more of an uphill battle to keep his starting spot with new competition.

Another factor to monitor with Jaylen Watson is his recent injury history. The defensive back suffered a nasty ankle injury midway through last season. Initially, he was feared to miss the remainder of the season. Watson worked relentlessly to make his way back for the entire playoff run last winter, however.

Outside of that ailment, Watson suffered a shoulder injury early in the 2023 season. It was not revealed until after that season that he had been playing through that labrum injury for a handful of months. Amazingly, he did not miss any game action that year and made a mark in Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers. He would eventually undergo surgery for that shoulder in the offseason before the 2024 regular season began.

If more injuries occur, the pathway to more reps for Williams or other names could materialize quickly. Jaylen Watson has been a trusted player for the Chiefs in certain spots. But his contract status entering the year, plus being a former seventh-round pick, puts him in a different case.

All in all, Jaylen Watson will likely get a chance to start on the outside to open the season. It will be a competitive environment on the Chiefs' cornerback depth chart. If we’ve learned anything about Watson during his time in Kansas City, it’s that he relishes that opportunity. Overall, any added pressure for him could elevate the Chiefs' cornerbacks as a whole.