Trent McDuffie Reportedly Traded to Rams from Chiefs for No. 29 Pick in 2026 NFL Draft

For the second time in two years, the Kansas City Chiefs are trading their No. 1 cornerback.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport first reported the Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams were in talks on a deal that will send Trent McDuffie in exchange for a package of picks that includes the No. 29 pick in the 2026 draft.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the full return for Kansas City is the 29th pick, a fifth- and sixth-rounder this year plus a third-round selection in 2027.

This is the type of deal that is common for both the Chiefs and Rams. As ESPN's Field Yates pointed out, the Rams have only used their own first-round pick to draft a player once since Sean McVay's first year as head coach in 2017.

The Chiefs, given their success at drafting and developing cornerbacks over the past several years, don't often pay them big money when they become extension-eligible.

Charvarius Ward went from being an undrafted free agent in 2018 and became a full-time starter by his second season. He left to sign a three-year deal worth up to $42 million with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent in March 2022.

After the 2023 season, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on L'Jarius Sneed. They wound up trading him to the Tennessee Titans for two draft picks. The Titans also gave Sneed a four-year, $76.4 million contract as part of the deal.

McDuffie, the No. 21 overall pick in the 2022 draft, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He was named to the All-Pro first team in his second season.

Cornerback was a huge area of need for the Rams and arguably the biggest reason they didn't reach the Super Bowl last season. Sam Darnold picked their secondary apart in the NFC Championship Game with 346 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Seattle Seahawks' 31-27 win.

This trade gives the Rams a proven starter in the secondary as they try to get over the hump in 2026. They also have an extra first-round pick from the Atlanta Falcons at No. 13 overall to ensure they will also be able to add a young high-level prospect to their roster.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs gained three picks in this draft, including two first-rounders at No. 9 and 29, as they look to reshape their roster coming off their first losing season (6-11) since 2012.