Patrick Mahomes quarterback Kansas City Chiefs
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 25: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs watches the game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly made a big marquee deal to trade star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, per Adam Schefter.
“ESPN sources: 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. McDuffie would be expected to sign a long-term deal with the Rams.” Schefter posted on X on Wednesday.
Over the past few years since getting drafted out of Washington in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, McDuffie has turned into one of the better cornerbacks in the league, obtaining All-Pro honors in 2023 and 2024 before his 2025 was cut short by 4 games due a knee injury.
Whilst players are aware that often the most prudent thing to do, especially for teams in tight cap situations and an ability to draft very well in the secondary – conditions that KC both meet – is to trade away top players at said position, it was apparently still saddening for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to see his CB1 depart, as was evidenced by his response to the trade news.
Patrick Mahomes II
Patrick Mahomes Shares Single-Word Reaction to Trade
“Damn..” Mahomes wrote on X, in response to the deal.
The Chiefs are set to return a pretty big haul in exchange for the 25-year old’s services, according to Schefter.
Kansas City will receive the Rams’ lower of their two first round picks (#29), plus the Rams’ fifth round pick (#168) and sixth round pick (#207 or #210) in 2026, along with the Rams’ third round pick in 2027, in exchange for McDuffie – per Schefter.
The Rams are also expected to hand the California native a brand new contract that could reset the cornerback market, which currently tops out at the $30.1 million per year deal signed by Sauce Gardner back in July 2025.
What Does This Mean For The Chiefs’ Defense Moving Forward?
Kansas City have always managed to draft and develop at cornerback like no other team in the league, certainly in the Brett Veach era.
The team did something similar back in 2024 when they sent off L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans for a third round pick prior to the start of the season, who at the time was widely considered to be a top-10 corner in the NFL. And the team did suffer in the passing game: going from the #4 ranked passing defense to #19 from 2023 to 2024.
But this time the deal has far more clear upside, with the Chiefs getting back legitimately high draft capital. And in a year that is filled with a large amount of talented corners in the draft, Veach will no doubt be confident in his ability to find a new high-level starting CB.
And whilst Mahomes may be sad in the short term, looking ahead KC has the opportunity to find a young, fresh replacement – alongside additional talents in later rounds – whilst all the while saving themselves $30 million or more per year in cap space.