Jaylen Watson, Kansas City Chiefs
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(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs now have a need at the cornerback position after trading Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday.
Fortunately, they now have some extra draft capitol to work with that could be used on a cornerback. Not only is McDuffie out of the fold, but Jaylen Watson is set to become a free agent next week.
The Chiefs could look to sign Watson before then, but he may want to test the open market. He should have plenty of suitors, and will likely land a lucrative long-term contract. Regardless of how it plays out, the era of Watson and McDuffie being the Chiefs’ top two cornerbacks has come to an end.
Jaylen Watson Sent Trent McDuffie a Message on Social Media After Kansas City Chiefs Traded Him
Watson took to X after the deal went down with a simple message to his now ex-teammate.
Watson and McDuffie entered the NFL together during the 2022 NFL Draft. Kansas City selected Watson in the seventh round (243rd overall) and McDuffie in the first (21st overall). While McDuffie was projected to be a very good professional player, Watson was a long shot to even make the roster.
However, he made the team after an impressive training camp, and was quickly thrust into a starting role during the regular season when McDuffie was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. Watson made a huge impact early in his career, returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers during a Thursday Night Football bout.
Watson would go on to start 29 games in four season with the Chiefs, recording three interceptions, 24 passes defensed, 178 total tackles, and four sacks. If Watson remain in Kansas City long-term, he will be its top cornerback and a cornerstone piece of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s secondary.
Examining the Chiefs’ Top Roster Needs During 2026 Offseason
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach
GettyChiefs GM Brett Veach has tough decisions to make during 2026 free agency.
The Chiefs have plenty of glaring roster holes following a disappointing 6-11 season. Among the most important include defensive line, running back, wide receiver, and cornerback. Even if Kansas City keeps Watson, it still needs a cornerback who excels in the slot. Watson, Nohl Williams, and Kristian Fulton play out on the boundary.
With just two inexperienced running backs currently under contract (Brashard Smith, ShunDerrick Powell) the Chiefs need a total makeover at the position. Every running back on their 2025 roster was held under four yards per carry. Some potential names they could look to add to the group include Travis Etienne Jr., Tyler Allgeier, Rico Dowdle, and Kenneth Gainwell.
Kansas City needs upgrades at both the end and tackle spots of the defensive line. There are quite a few impact pass rushers set to hit free agency, but the Chiefs won’t likely be big spenders. Now possessing two picks in the first round of this year’s draft, it would be shocking if they didn’t use at least one on a defensive lineman. It’s not impossible that they use both on one.
The Chiefs’ wide receiver corps has a bleak outlook as well. Rashee Rice is once again in legal trouble with an off-the-field issue, and has had trouble staying healthy. Besides Xavier Worthy, Kansas City only has Jalen Royals, Jason Brownlee, and Jimmy Holiday under contract for 2026. Marquise Brown and Tyquan Thornton could return, but are currently set to hit free agency.