The NFL is a brutal business. It’s been nicknamed Not For Long for a reason—teams are always searching for cheaper, younger replacements, no matter how beloved or productive a player might be. And the Kansas City Chiefs, who’ve built a near-dynasty in the salary-cap era, are no exception.

With Patrick Mahomes’ eye-popping cap hits starting to kick in—$28 million this season, followed by a jaw-dropping stretch of $78 million, $74 million, and $42 million over the next three years (the Chiefs will surely do what it takes to adjust these numbers in the future)—Kansas City is under serious pressure to find value in the margins. That means hitting on draft picks and loading the back end of the roster with budget-friendly contributors.

They did exactly that in 2022 when they struck gold in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. With the 243rd overall pick, the Chiefs selected cornerback Jaylen Watson out of Washington State. He didn’t just make the roster—he made noise.

Watson appeared in 16 games as a rookie, started six, and logged over 750 defensive snaps. He also made one of the most memorable plays of the season with a 99-yard pick-six. It was the kind of fairytale start every late-round pick dreams of.

But the clock may be ticking on that fairytale.

Jaylen Watson’s Time May Be Ticking With Chiefs

Watson is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, and with Mahomes’ contract squeezing the team’s flexibility, it’s unclear if Kansas City will be able—or willing—to keep him around much longer. Knowing that, the Chiefs got proactive in rebuilding their cornerback depth.

They signed Kristian Fulton to a two-year, $20 million deal. Fulton, who spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, is expected to step in immediately opposite Trent McDuffie on the outside—taking the spot Watson once held.

Kansas City didn’t stop there. They also traded up in the third round to snag Nohl Williams out of California. Williams is a physical press-man corner who fits Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme like a glove. He’s raw but has long-term upside written all over him.

With Fulton poised to take the present and Williams prepped for the future, Watson suddenly finds himself in a squeeze. The Chiefs’ cornerback room is a lot more crowded—and competitive—than it was last season.

Training camp is just a few weeks away, but every Cinderella story hits midnight eventually. And for Jaylen Watson, the clock might be dangerously close to striking twelve.