Rams To Extend CB Trent McDuffie

This was the expected outcome after the Rams, in their latest all-in move, acquired McDuffie from the Chiefs on Tuesday. Los Angeles sent three 2026 draft picks – No. 29 overall, a fifth- and sixth-rounder – as well as a 2027 third-rounder to reel in the 25-year-old two-time All-Pro. The Chiefs quickly granted the Rams permission to negotiate with McDuffie, who had been seeking a market-topping extension.

Now that he is set to land atop the cornerback market, McDuffie will move past previous leader Sauce Gardner in contract value ($120.1MM) and average annual salary ($31MM to $30.1MM). The Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. ($89.03MM) is now second among corners in guarantees. All three of those players entered the league as first-rounders in 2022, though Stingley is the only one still with the team that drafted him. Despite extending Gardner last summer, the Jets traded him to the Colts before the Nov. 4 deadline for two first-rounders and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

Already a two-time Super Bowl winner, McDuffie will now serve as a defensive centerpiece for an L.A. team that will enter next season with championship aspirations. The Rams are coming off a year in which they won 12 regular-season games and added a pair of playoff victories. They allowed the 19th-most passing yards in the league, however, and had no answer for Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold or superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the NFC title game. In a 31-27 Seahawks victory, Darnold torched the Rams for 346 yards and three touchdowns. He connected with JSN 10 times for 153 yards and a score.

The Rams are banking on McDuffie to help them overtake the Seahawks in the NFC West and in the conference next year. In McDuffie, the Rams acquired a former Washington standout who has started in all 56 of his games in the pros. While McDuffie has only intercepted three passes in four seasons, he has racked up 34 passes defensed and eight forced fumbles. McDuffie, who is versatile enough to play outside and in the slot, ranked as one of Pro Football Focus’ top five corners in 2023 and ’24. Although McDuffie dropped to 12th last year, he has still never fallen outside of PFF’s top 20 in an individual season

McDuffie is under wraps, but he will not be the last high-profile player Rams general manager Les Snead extends this offseason. A new accord is likely coming for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Meanwhile, 2023 draftees Puka Nacua, Steve Avila, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Warren McClendon are all eligible for multiyear contracts.