Trent McDuffie
The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs made a blockbuster trade. They sent All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles at a steep cost. The New York Giants were likely watching the deal closely.
Trent McDuffie goes to Los Angeles for multiple draft picks, including the No. 29 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s what sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
The trade shakes up the league, with Los Angeles Rams adding elite talent to strengthen their secondary. Meanwhile, Kansas City Chiefs cash in on future draft assets.
The Trade Came Down to Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants
Trent McDuffie, in the final year of his rookie deal, is expected to sign a long-term extension with the Los Angeles Rams, sources told Adam Schefter. Entering the final season of his rookie deal, McDuffie is expected to lock in a long-term extension with the Rams.
Back in April, the Chiefs had already exercised the fifth-year option on his contract, guaranteeing his 2026 salary of $13.6 million.
On top of the No. 29 pick, Kansas City is set to receive a 2026 fifth- and sixth-rounder, plus a 2027 third-round selection, according to sources.
This trade isn’t just about one player — it’s a seismic shakeup, with the Rams betting big on elite talent to fortify their secondary while the Chiefs stockpile draft capital for the future.
According to Sam McDowell, the Trent McDuffie trade came down to the Rams and the Giants.
On X (formerly Twitter) he posted, “The Trent McDuffie trade came down to the Rams and the Giants, I’m told. In the end, the Rams were the team willing to give up first-round PLUS.”
In the end, the Giants’ offer to the Chiefs apparently wasn’t tempting enough. In the 2026 Draft, set for April 23–25 in Pittsburgh, New York holds the No. 5 overall pick. It looks like the Giants are planning to keep it.
New York Giants Didn’t Want to Give Up on Their 2026 First-Rounder
Patrick Mahomes II
This is exactly the kind of move both the Chiefs and Rams are known for. As ESPN’s Field Yates pointed out, the Rams have used their own first-round pick only once since 2017. This shows they are willing to trade picks to acquire proven talent.
It signals that the New York Giants are playing the long game, keeping top draft picks instead of trading them for one move.
And yet, the Giants are likely to play a major role in this saga — given that they were reportedly the runner-up, it’s safe to say they helped drive the price up.
Even without making the deal, New York’s presence shaped the market, showing that other teams had to pay top dollar to land McDuffie.
The trade isn’t just shaking up New York — it’s sending shockwaves across the league. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reacted on X, simply posting “damn” after the deal became public.
The reaction says it all: this is a move that’s turning heads from coast to coast.
For the past three seasons, Trent McDuffie had been Kansas City’s second-best defender behind pass rusher Chris Jones. Whether in the nickel or on the perimeter, McDuffie excelled in coverage and posed a threat as a part-time blitzer.
Last season, he recorded one interception, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one sack.
This cemented his reputation as a versatile, playmaking corner.
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:bdcdd9fe-d659-45da-927a-0c1acd3a31b2-8" data-testid="conversation-turn-18" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant">
The New York Giants didn’t trade for Trent McDuffie, but their involvement reshaped the deal. This proves the Giants still control decisions on elite talent.