The Rams moved heaven and earth -- and a litany of draft picks -- to acquire a lockdown corner. On Sunday, they paid him handsomely.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Los Angeles agreed to terms on a four-year extension with Trent McDuffie. The extension comes mere days after landing him in a blockbuster trade with the Chiefs. McDuffie, a one-time first-team All-Pro, leapfrogged a host of notable cornerbacks -- including Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. -- to become football's highest-paid corner.
At his best, McDuffie is one of the league's best corners, with a dizzying mix of physicality and speed who routinely blankets the league's better wideouts. His production warrants a gleaming contract. Los Angeles rewarded him for his exploits, hoping to find another anchor on its already impressive defense.
Here's a look at McDuffie's contract -- and how it compares to other notable cornerbacks.
Trent McDuffie contract details
Years: Four
Value: $124 million
McDuffie's new deal won't go into effect until the 2027 season. When it does, he'll fetch an average annual value (AAV) of $31 million, the highest in league history.
Of McDuffie's $124 million contract, $100 million is guaranteed. That's the sixth-highest figure among defenders in league history, bettered only by Aidan Hutchinson ($140.5 million), Micah Parsons ($136 million), Myles Garrett ($122.8 million) and Nick Bosa ($108 million).
MORE: What Trent McDuffie trade means for Chiefs
Highest-paid cornerbacks for 2026
McDuffie leapfrogged Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner to become the league's highest-paid cornerback. He's not too far away from his competition, only making $1 million more than his All-Pro-caliber counterparts.
All told, nine cornerbacks make at least $20 million annually.
Here's how McDuffie's new deal compares with other high-profile earners.
Rank Quarterback Team AAV
1 Trent McDuffie Rams $31 million
2 Sauce Gardner Colts $30.1 million
3 Derek Stingley Jr. Texans $30 million
4 Jaycee Horn Panthers $25 million
5 Patrick Surtain II Broncos $24 million
6 DaRon Bland Cowboys $22.5 million
7 Jalen Ramsey Steelers $21.175 million
8 AJ Terrell Falcons $20.25 million
9 Denzel Ward Browns $20.1 million
10 Marlon Humphrey Ravens $19.5 million
NFL highest-paid defensive players
Here are the NFL's highest-paid defensive players by average annual value:
Rank Player AAV Team
1 Micah Parsons $46.5 million Packers
2 Aidan Hutchinson $45 million Lions
3 T.J. Watt $41 million Steelers
4 Danielle Hunter $40.1 million Texans
5 Myles Garrett $40 million Browns
6 Maxx Crosby $35.5 million Ravens
7 Nick Bosa $34 million 49ers
8 Chris Jones $31.75 million Chiefs
9 Trent McDuffie $31 million Rams
10 Sauce Gardner $30.1 million Colts