Known for letting cornerbacks function one-contract players within the Andy Reid era, the Chiefs will strongly consider making an exception. Trent McDuffie extension talks, which began last 12 months, are set to resume.
The Chiefs and their top defensive back negotiated throughout the 2025 offseason but couldn’t come to terms on an extension prior to Week 1. While Kansas City hammered out a take care of fellow 2022 first-round pick George Karlaftis, McDuffie is on a better level at his respective position. The prospect of McDuffie pursuing a market-setting contract got here up in November, and his camp can have one other probability to present a sales pitch to the Chiefs.
“We had a variety of dialogue with Trent last spring, last summer. He’s first out of the gate,” Chiefs GM Brett Veach said, via Fox4’s Jared Bush. “Looking forward to get with him and clearly Trent’s a fantastic player. We’d actually like to have Trent back for the long run.”
Going back to Marcus Peters, the Chiefs haven’t shown interest in paying corners over the past decade. They traded Peters and L’Jarius Sneed and let Steven Nelson, Kendall Fuller and Charvarius Ward walk. Jaylen Watson is anticipated to affix that one-contract group, being set free of charge agency next month. One season stays on McDuffie’s rookie deal, which the team prolonged through 2026 via the fifth-year option.
McDuffie, 25, has been the Chiefs’ top cornerback since arriving within the 2022 first round. Chosen with the first-round pick obtained from the Dolphins within the Tyreek Hill trade, McDuffie has played well outside and within the slot. He’s a two-time All-Pro, but because no original-ballot Pro Bowl honors have come his way, the Chiefs landed a reduction on his fifth-year option (which checks in at $13.63MM).
Even after the Chiefs accomplished their latest Patrick Mahomes restructure, they’re still projected to be greater than $3MM over the cap. It could behoove Kansas City to increase McDuffie and reduce his cap number. The Chiefs’ history at this position should keep a possible blockbuster trade on the radar, within the event McDuffie’s price point (as Hill’s did amid 2022 negotiations) exceeds the team’s comfort zone. Though, the Chiefs could also string this process out — as they did with Orlando Brown Jr. in ’22 — via a franchise tag next 12 months.
However the team, which re-signed its D-line and linebacker pillars (Chris Jones, Nick Bolton) over the past two offseasons, will explore what it’s going to take to increase its secondary ace this week in Indianapolis.