The Kansas City Chiefs endured one of their worst seasons in over a decade in 2025 and, in need of reinforcements, are also facing salary cap issues. As a result, the Chiefs are reportedly in talks to send All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.
McDuffie was selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by Kansas City and became a pivotal part of its secondary over the past four seasons. He had his best year in 2023, when the Chiefs won their second straight Super Bowl, and he earned first-team All-Pro honors.
McDuffie followed that up with a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024, but Kansas City did not offer him a contract extension and instead exercised his fifth-year option. Given the Chiefs’ track record of developing cornerbacks, their need for cap relief, and McDuffie entering the final year of his deal, the trade was expected and makes sense.
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However, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes appeared surprised by the news. “Damn..,” he wrote in a post on X.
Parting ways with a teammate is never easy, but the Chiefs are receiving significant draft capital in return. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who first reported the trade, Kansas City will receive the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as fifth and sixth round picks in 2026 and a third round pick in 2027.
While the Chiefs gain draft capital, the Rams add a major upgrade to their secondary. Over four seasons in Kansas City, the 25-year-old McDuffie recorded 34 pass deflections, 12 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles, and three interceptions, along with 246 total tackles, including 178 solo stops.
"Rams address their most glaring need and hold onto pick 13--McDuffie lets them play more man, has elite tackling ability, and bring inside-out versatility....guessing he plays mostly outside for them but kicks in situationally," NFL analyst Mina Kimes wrote about the trade.
Kansas City, meanwhile, could receive a boost in its Super Bowl aspirations, having recouped roughly 80 percent of the return it once received for trading Tyreek Hill. And after dealing Hill to the Dolphins, the Chiefs went on to win back-to-back Super Bowls.