Trent McDuffie. Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Trent McDuffie, Rams agree to record-setting contract extension

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Mar 9, 2026 8:02 AM ET

The Los Angeles Rams paid a steep price to land star cornerback Trent McDuffie when they agreed to trade four draft picks, including the No. 29 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, to the Kansas City Chiefs this past week.

Now, that investment is going to cost them real dollars.

Rams, Trent McDuffie agree to record contract extension

According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday, the Rams and McDuffie have agreed to a four-year, $124M contract extension (including $100M in guarantees) that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

The $31M per year average puts him just ahead of the $30M annually that Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner makes.

When the trade and the contract extension become official this week, it will be the first major move in retooling both the Rams and the Chiefs organizations.

ESPN sources: Rams and Trent McDuffie reached agreement today on a record four-year, $124 million extension that includes $100 million guaranteed and makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. McDuffie gets a trade and a new deal days apart as the Rams and CAA Football… pic.twitter.com/53cisV7oG8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026

The Rams have been no strangers to using their first-round picks as trade capital, using multiple picks to move up for Jared Goff at the 2016 NFL Draft, trading multiple picks for Matthew Stafford and doing it again for Jalen Ramsey.

Going back to the start of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Rams have made just one actual selection in the first round: linebacker Jared Verse, whom they selected with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Not every team can remain competitive with that sort of approach, but the Rams have made it work for themselves.

The Rams do still have the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which they acquired a year ago in a draft-day trade with the Atlanta Falcons.

As for the Chiefs, losing McDuffie is a big blow to their secondary in the short-term, but they are now loaded with draft picks in this year's class, including two picks in the first round. That will be a great opportunity to re-tool the roster around franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes with plenty of young, incoming talent.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

More must-reads: