Trent McDuffie
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Trent McDuffie is expected to reset the cornerback market after getting traded to the Rams
The Kansas City Chiefs blew a hole in their secondary when they traded star cornerback Trent McDuffie, but one analyst believes they have a perfect replacement on the way.
The Chiefs shipped McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal, receiving a package of draft picks including the No. 26 selection in this year’s draft. While it was considered a great return for the Chiefs, they also lost cornerback Jaylen Watson in free agency and now have the task of replacing two of the most important players in their secondary.
Chiefs Land Promising Rookie CB in Mock Draft
Fox Sports analyst Ben Arthur believes they will find the answer with the first of their two first-round draft picks.
In a mock draft published on Wednesday, Arthur predicted the Chiefs would land LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the No. 9 overall pick. Arthur wrote that Delane could help fill in for the losses of McDuffie and Watson.
“CB1 in this year’s draft, Delane would be a perfect fit for the Chiefs, who traded two-time All-Pro Trent McDuffie and saw fellow starting cornerback Jaylen Watson walk in free agency,” Arthur wrote.
Delane earned high marks from NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein, who also called him the best cornerback of this year’s draft class.
“Delane is one of the top cornerbacks in a CB-rich draft,” Zierlein wrote. “He excels in press coverage, altering release timing with punches and slides. Smooth hips and efficient footwork keep him connected in man coverage, while his processing allows for quick transitions in off-man and short zone looks. He has good top-end speed for vertical phasing but is inconsistent turning to find the football.”
Zierlein also shared praise for Delane’s ability to continue playing at a high level despite being hampered by an injury in his final season at LSU.
“He played through a core muscle injury for much of the 2025 season and still performed at an elite level,” Zierlein wrote. “Delane’s emergence over the past two years might be indicative of what’s to come, as he’s shown lockdown potential.”
The Chiefs are likely looking for an immediate impact player with their top pick, which is unusually high after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. The team is aiming to jump back into Super Bowl contention in what could be tight end Travis Kelce’s final season.
Chiefs Have Addressed Secondary This Offseason
The Chiefs have already done some work to address the holes in their secondary, signing cornerback Kader Kohou after his stint with the Miami Dolphins came to an end. Kohou missed the season after suffering a torn ACL, but ESPN hinted that his versatility could make a big difference in Kansas City.
“The Texas A&M-Commerce product signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and started 38 games in his first three seasons,” the report noted. “The versatile defensive back played both outside and nickel cornerback and was a reliable tackler for the Dolphins’ secondary with 180 combined tackles.”