The Kansas City Chiefs lost a game that didn’t really mean all that much on Christmas night, as the Denver Broncos outlasted the Chiefs, 2013. The Chiefs were forced to play third-string quarterback Chris Oladukon, who acquitted himself competently enough, and this was also a tryout game for the Chiefs, with multiple players being placed on injured reserve before the game.

There were some surprises, however. With Kansas City’s top two cornerbacks unavailable, the Chiefs replace Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson with Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams, and both backups played well, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN.

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They were especially good against Denver receiver Courtland Sutton, who often looked a step slow as both Chiefs corners made pass breakups. Fulton finished with three pass breakups, according to Taylor, one of which led to an interception by linebacker Nick Bolton. Williams, meanwhile, had eight tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage.

So why doe this matter? Start with the rumors that McDuffie could be traded for draft capital, which the Chiefs badly need. Watson is also eligible for an extension, so he could be Kansas City’s new lockdown corner if the Chiefs want to go that route.

If the Chiefs make a move with either starting corner, both Fulton and Williams will be important. Fulton is a 27-year old veteran who started his career with the Tennessee Titans, but he’s been bouncing around of late, spending last year with the Los Angeles Chargers before finding a home in Kansas City this year.

Nohl is probably the more important of the two. He was drafted out of California in the third round, and as a top 100 pick he’s expected to produce. The fact that he did is potentially good news for Chiefs fans, as he could be next man up depending on what Kansas City decides to do at cornerback this offseason.

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The position is especially important for the Chiefs, who sometimes leave their cornerbacks on an island when Steve Spagnuolo decides to apply pressure in some of his blitz-heavy packages. The pass rush didn’t get home a lot in the second half of the season, however, so changes will be coming.

The Chiefs could also fill this need via trade or free agency, of course, but that’s not typically how they roll at corner. Williams is their developmental guy, and if he and Fulton continue to play well, it would allow Kansas City to move McDuffie for draft capital and solve their cornerback situation internally.