Trent McDuffie
Getty
Trent McDuffie is expected to reset the cornerback market after getting traded to the Rams
The Los Angeles Rams have made it clear early on this offseason that they mean business when it comes to winning a Super Bowl next season. In case that wasn’t obvious, the team shocked the NFL on Wednesday by swinging a blockbuster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs that saw them land All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.
It took the Rams four draft picks, including the No. 29 overall selection in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft, in order to pry McDuffie away from the Chiefs, but they now have one of the top cornerbacks in the league playing for them. In the wake of pulling off this trade, though, a massive update regarding McDuffie’s contract status came to light that will surely catch fans’ attention.
Trent McDuffie Expected to Receive Groundbreaking Contract Extension from Rams
The No. 21 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, McDuffie quickly turned himself into a key piece of the Chiefs’ defense. In his first four seasons in the league, McDuffie has earned a pair of All-Pro selections (one First Team, one Second Team) and two Super Bowl championships. Safe to say, things have gone pretty well for McDuffie early on in his career.
In 2025, McDuffie wasn’t at his best, as his coverage metrics plummeted. In 13 games, McDuffie allowed opposing quarterbacks to post a passer rating of 95.5 on passes where he was the closest defender, and his four touchdowns allowed matched a career high. Not much went right for the Chiefs in 2025, and McDuffie’s sudden struggles were a key part of what was ultimately a messy picture on defense.
With McDuffie entering the final year of his rookie contract, Kansas City’s front office decided to trade him away before signing him to a big-money deal. Now that he’s on the Rams, it’s up to their front office to give McDuffie the sort of contract he’s looking for. And according to reports, it sounds like McDuffie is looking to reset the cornerback market and top Sauce Gardner’s contract, which sees him get paid an average of $30.1 million per year.
“Trent McDuffie is in the final year of his rookie contract and will need an extension. The top of the CB market is $30.1M per year with Sauce Gardner. He’s expected to want to top that,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported in a post on X.
Rams Set to Begin Contract Extension Talks with Trent McDuffie
Trent McDuffie, Chiefs
GettyCornerback Trent McDuffie of the Kansas City Chiefs.
There’s no doubt that this isn’t news for the Rams, as they knew McDuffie would need a new contract before they even began negotiating this deal with the Chiefs. L.A.’s front office knew that as part of this trade, it would need to hand McDuffie a new contract in order to ensure that he doesn’t hit the open market and leave for nothing next offseason.
So while this deal is in the books, the work has only begun for Los Angeles when it comes to keeping McDuffie in town for the long haul. Of course, there is quite a bit of time to get something done here, but when considering how much money McDuffie is set to command, it’s clear that this is something the front office would like to put a bow on sooner rather than later.