Trent McDuffie, Los Angeles Rams
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Trent McDuffie #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on after a victory against the Houston Texans.
The Los Angeles Rams wasted little time between general manager Les Snead saying they were interested in adding an All-Pro to their secondary and doing just that.
LA traded for Kansas City Chiefs corner and two-time Super Bowl champion Trent McDuffie.
McDuffie turns 26 in September. He was the 21st overall pick in the 2022 draft, winning back-to-back titles with the Chiefs as a rookie and in 2023. His departure via trade is the latest in an extended trend for the Chiefs, this time with the Rams benefiting.
Rams Trade for Chiefs’ Trent McDuffie
Trent McDuffie, Los Angeles Rams
GettyTrent McDuffie #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs walks out of the tunnel before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Snead spoke with the media on Tuesday, roughly 24 hours before the Rams made the trade that will rewrite their offseason.
“The Chiefs and Rams are working on a blockbuster trade that would send All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles for a package that would include the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on March 4, citing sources with knowledge of the situation.
“McDuffie would be expected to sign a long-term deal with the Rams.”
Heavy Sports explored a package built around the 29th overall pick, with the Rams also owning the No. 13 pick thanks to their 2025 draft-day trade with the Atlanta Falcons.
McDuffie is coming on the fifth-year option of a four-year, $13.9 million contract, which is worth $13.6 million. Spotrac projected his market value at $27 million annually and a four-year, $111.5 million pact.
Per Over The Cap, the Rams have $40.2 million in space before possibly extending McDuffie.
Trent McDuffie’s Fit With Rams
trent McDuffie
GettyTrent McDuffie #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
McDuffie, a First Team All-Pro in 2025, joins a Rams defense that finished last season ranked 10th in scoring, 17th overall, and 19th against the pass.
Darious Williams and Emmanuel Forbes were the Rams’ top returning corners.
Snead spoke about using free agency to avoid overreaching in the draft. This move effectively accomplished the same goal. And while the Rams are now down to one first-round pick, they can still maneuver back and recoup some lost value from this trade.
That could set them up with a similar situation next offseason.
On the field, McDuffie has performed well at nickelback, which could allow the Rams to play Quentin Lake back at his natural safety spot rather than in the slot.
Trent McDuffie Manifested Homecoming
GettyTrent McDuffie #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media during the Kansas City Chiefs’ media availability before Super Bowl LVII.
McDuffie is from Westminster. And while he played his college ball at the University of Washington, McDuffie made three stops at California high schools.
He also spoke fondly about possibly playing for the Rams.
“If I could play for another team, I’d probably want to play close to my family,” McDuffie said during an event for his T22 McDuffie Foundation in August 2025. “So, that’ll probably be the LA Rams, so that my family can come see every single game.”
Separately, Snead’s comments fueled speculation that the Rams could finally make that happen with a trade this offseason.
“At the end of the day, it’s all of us doing the after-action review. Coaching staff coming in and saying, ‘Hey, this is, maybe, tweaks to what we’re trying to accomplish, right, on the back end from a scheme standpoint. And then, at that point, determining [who on] our roster fits the new adjustments or tweaks,” Snead told reporters on March 3.
“At that point, figuring out … is there an All-Pro that you could add, right? That could be nice.”
Snead suggested that he was not fixated on acquiring an All-Pro, but the Rams’ GM did exactly that with this trade for McDuffie.