On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs made waves when the team dealt All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for a haul of picks.
McDuffie was a first-team All-Pro slot defender in 2023, a second-team All-Pro cornerback in 2024 and a key contributor on two Super Bowl-winning teams.
With memorable plays like forcing former Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill to fumble against the Miami Dolphins in Germany, or recovering a fumble in the endzone to help secure the 2023 AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens, and of course, shutting down and getting under the skin of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in front of the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium.
McDuffie was an integral part of the defensive resurgence in Kansas City stemming from the 2022 draft class. His teammates and fans will miss him, but this was a move that could be seen coming, and one that can help the Chiefs in the short term and long term.
There will be some instant drawbacks to losing a player of the caliber of McDuffie, but the true impact of this trade will be felt in seasons to come. We’ll start with the immediate notes:
The Chiefs will save $13.6 million towards 2026 cap space with McDuffie’s departure. Had the team waited until next offseason to make a move, seeking out a trade would have included using the franchise tag, which could have dropped McDuffie’s value somewhat or given another team more leverage in negotiations.
This instant influx of cash will bulk up Kansas City’s available-cap number to approximately $23.3 million, according to Arrowhead Pride staff writer Jared Sapp.
This will give the team cap room to sign free agents or bring back players like safety Bryan Cook, cornerback Jaylen Watson or linebacker Leo Chenal, who are all three pending free agents. On Thursday morning, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that he expects the Chiefs to push for retaining Watson.
It could also give Kansas City a chance to go after an external free agent, possibly one of the big names available this offseason in Kenneth Walker III or Travis Etienne.
Overall, the McDuffie trade is a big piece in giving the Chiefs enough room to operate through the free agency period and add other talented players to the roster.
Losing an All-Pro caliber player
With the current state of Kansas City’s roster, the defensive secondary is seriously depleted heading into free agency and the draft.
With Watson looking ahead to free agency, the Chiefs’ cornerback room is left with unproven, inexperienced players. At the moment, the cornerback room is made up of Nohl Williams, Kristian Fulton, Chamari Conner, Melvin Smith Jr., and Kevin Knowles.
The team seems to have high hopes for Williams after a promising rookie season, but the rest of the unit was up and down.
With the possibility of losing Cook over the top, there is potential for a serious void in the defense, a unit already desperate for reinforcements up front.
Short and long-term benefit
Adding the 29th pick, two Day 3 picks and a 2027 third-round selection
The Chiefs were already sitting pretty in the draft with two top-40 picks, but general manager Brett Veach and his front-office staff now have a chance to make three high-profile selections in that range who could play well immediately.
While the secondary will likely take its lumps early, Kansas City has a rare chance at bolstering the defensive line. Or it could afford the franchise the luxury of taking an offensive weapon early.
The retooling of the secondary will come over time, but even with a solid secondary in 2025, the Chiefs’ pass-rush struggles signified a need for serious investment in either free agency or the draft. With a highly-talented draft class of defensive linemen, it seems imminent that the Chiefs will invest in the future of their defense, even if the return is not seen in one season in.
Losing a proven commodity
McDuffie is 25 years old, a two-time Super Bowl champion with multiple All-Pro honors. He will now be playing for another contender, setting up to make more impactful plays in big moments or playoff games.
He could end up being a Hall of Fame cornerback when it’s all said and done.
Draft picks are great, but at the end of the day, no one has a crystal ball on how things will turn out. This move — and draft — could make or break Veach’s future leading the Chiefs’ roster-building strategy, but if anyone has received the benefit of the doubt, especially with defensive back evaluations, it’s him.
It wasn’t long ago that a blockbuster trade of Tyreek Hill became the catalyst for bringing McDuffie to Kansas City, but looking back on that draft night, the Chiefs might not have even expected to take him.
Over time, McDuffie became a vital part of the Chiefs’ defense, but given the randomness around the selection, it made taking him a luxury pick to an extent.
Even before McDuffie, Veach had an eye for talent in the secondary, which is the spot he should be trusted to rebuild the most. With Nohl Williams showing flashing high-level play, it will only be a matter of time before the unit is back on top.
The chaos of the draft is what makes it great, and this bold move is an example of Kansas City maximizing an opportunity to draft a blue-chip player, striking gold by trading him at a high value.
McDuffie was passed on by teams due to his stature, and in turn, the Chiefs gave him a chance to be one of the best in the game.
This year, without question, talented players will fall. The Chiefs are positioning themselves for when they do.
