Chiefs trade Trent McDuffie to Rams: reports

The Chiefs received a total of four draft picks in exchange for All-Pro cornerback

The Chiefs are down an All-Pro cornerback.

According to multiple reports, the Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the Rams’ 2026 first-round pick (29^th overall), fifth-round pick, sixth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.

ESPN first reported the news.

The Chiefs last year extended a fifth-year option on McDuffie, who was set to enter the 2026 season in a contract year.

McDuffie’s departure comes a week after Chiefs general manager Brett Veach expressed optimism that a new contract could be worked out.

“We’ve had a lot of dialogue with Trent last spring, last summer,” Veach said on Feb. 24. “He’s first out of the gate tomorrow, so looking forward to get with him.

“Obviously, Trent’s a great player and see what we can do there, but we’d certainly love to have Trent back for the long term.”

Veach’s hope of McDuffie staying in Kansas City is now an afterthought.

The 5-foot-11, 193-pound McDuffie is widely regarded as one of the league’s top cornerbacks, especially in the nickel role.

He garnered first-team All-Pro honors in 2023, then followed with a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024, while helping the Chiefs win two Super Bowl championships (LVII, LVIII).

He finishes his time in a Chiefs uniform appearing in 56 games, all starts, and totaling 246 tackles (178 solo), 5.5 sacks, three interceptions and 34 passes defensed.

The loss of McDuffie leaves a hole in the defensive secondary, where cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Josuah Williams are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the start of the NFL’s new calendar year on March 11.

The Chiefs have cornerbacks Nohl Williams, Kristian Fulton, Chris Rowland-Wallace and Kevin Knowles returning from last season’s roster.

Kansas City now owns nine picks, including two first-round picks, in the 2026 NFL Draft.

While the Chiefs could attempt to re-sign Watson, it is virtually a certainty that the Chiefs will use free agency and the draft to bolster the cornerback position group.