Nichols, 5-10, 189, comes to New Orleans after spending the spring of 2020 with the XFL's Houston Roughnecks, leading the league with three interceptions before the season was shortened. He was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft out of the University of South Florida.

At South Florida, the Miami, Fla. Native appeared in 50 games (39 starts) in four seasons, starting all 38 games during his final three years. He finished his college career with 175 tackles (136 solo), 11 interceptions (third-most in school history), 24 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one sack and 14.5 tackles for loss. Nichols was a three-time All-American Athletic Conference selection, earning first-team honors in 2015 and 2017 and second-team honors in 2016. He started all 12 games and was a first-team All-AAC selection after totaling 56 tackles (44 solo), three interceptions, four tackles for loss, a team-leading 12 passes defensed and a forced fumble as a senior in 2017. He started all 13 games and was a second-team All-AAC selection as a junior in 2016, totaling 49 tackles (37 solo), a team-leading four interceptions, two tackles for loss, 11 passes defensed and led the team with seven passes defensed.