Sources: Chiefs trade Trent McDuffie to Rams for four draft picks
The rams and Chiefs have agreed to a trade sending All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles for a bundle of draft picks that features the No. 29 choice within the 2026 NFL draft, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
McDuffie, who’s coming into the ultimate season of his rookie deal, is anticipated to signal a long-term extension with the Rams, sources instructed Schefter. In April, the Chiefs exercised the fifth-year possibility in McDuffie’s contract, making his 2026 wage of $13.6 million totally assured.
Along with choose No. 29, the Chiefs will obtain 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks and a 2027 third-round choose, the sources instructed Schefter.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was amongst Kansas City’s gamers to react on social media after information of the trade broke, writing “damn” in a post to X on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, when requested what he would love to add to the secondary this offseason, Rams common supervisor Les Snead stated after doing an “after-action review,” the objective is to begin “figuring out, is there an All-Pro that you could add?”
Cornerback was a prime want for the Rams going into free company and the draft, as that they had four pending free brokers on the place.
In August, whereas internet hosting a back-to-school occasion in Kansas City, McDuffie was requested what different staff he’d like to play for if he did not play for the Chiefs.
“You’re going to get me in trouble,” McDuffie stated with a smile. “Let’s think. If I could play for another team, I’d probably want to play close to my family, so that would probably be the LA Rams so that my family could come see every single game.”
McDuffie is from Southern California and performed his senior yr of highschool at St. John Bosco High School. He additionally performed for Rams cross sport coordinator/defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake on the University of Washington in 2019.
The Rams nonetheless have one first-round choose (No. 13) after buying and selling again with the Falcons throughout the 2025 draft.
The Rams have made a first-round choose since 2017, once they took Jared Verse nineteenth total in 2024. That’s 5 fewer first-round picks than some other staff from 2017-25, in accordance to ESPN Research.
For the previous three seasons, McDuffie had been the Chiefs’ second-best defender behind cross rusher Chris Jones. Whether he lined up from the nickel or on the perimeter, McDuffie was distinctive in protection and as an occasional blitzer. Last season, McDuffie recorded one interception, seven cross breakups and one compelled fumble and one sack.
McDuffie’s greatest particular person season of his profession was in 2024, when he recorded two interceptions and 13 cross breakups, each profession highs, together with 59 tackles, four quarterback hits and one compelled fumble.
For Chiefs common supervisor Brett Veach, McDuffie was the primary draft choice — and the best draft choose of his tenure, which started in 2017 — within the staff’s pivotal 2022 class, which included two first-round picks following the blockbuster trade that despatched receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins.
The 2022 draft class — that includes McDutfie, defensive finish George Karlaftisoperating again Isiah Pachecosafety Brian Cooklinebacker Leo Chenal and cornerback Jaylen Watson — helped the Chiefs additional set up themselves because the NFL’s most up-to-date dynasty. The Chiefs received back-to-back Super Bowls and reached the championship sport once more in 2024, turning into the primary repeat champion to attain the Super Bowl for a 3rd consecutive time. In 10 postseason video games, McDuffie generated 13 cross breakups, one compelled fumble and one fumble restoration.
Watson, Chenal, Cook and Pacheco are all scheduled to develop into unrestricted free brokers subsequent week.
This is the second time in three years the Chiefs have traded a prime cornerback as an alternative of handing out a big-money extension. In 2024, Kansas City traded L’Jarius Sneed to the titans. Sneed then signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract with Tennessee.
