The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to trade star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal that includes four draft picks in return per multiple reports.
The Rams will receive the No. 29 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as a fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick in 2026. The Chiefs are also sending them a third-round pick in the 2027 draft.
A first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Washington, McDuffie quickly became one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL for the Chiefs, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2023.
McDuffie fills a big need for the Rams, who likely would have targeted a cornerback with one of their two first-round picks in this year's draft. Now with McDuffie in the fold, they'll use the No. 13 overall pick (acquired during last year's draft from the Atlanta Falcons) to target additional help at other needs, including a potential replacement for the retired Rob Havenstein at right tackle.
Last year, the Rams claimed Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from the Washington Commanders, and the former first-rounder enjoyed a resurgence after a disappointing start to his NFL career. Now, the Rams are adding yet another undersized but talented corner and former first-round pick in McDuffie, who should solidify their starting lineup at a premium position.
For the Chiefs, this deal gives them a strong return of valuable draft capital, and despite the loss of a quality player on defense, keeps them from having to break to bank to re-sign McDuffie to a lucrative long-term extension like the one he's expected to ink with the Rams. They'll now have multiple first-round picks, including their original top-10 selection, to rebuild the roster around Patrick Mahomes in hopes of making a return to the Super Bowl after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Mahomes needs multiple weapons on offense if the Chiefs want to return to their prior glory, and with McDuffie gone and defensive lineman Chris Jones on the north side of 30 years old, the defense is in desperate need of reinforcements at every level.