The Rams and newly acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie began progressing toward an extension on Sunday afternoon. Two hours later, the perimeters have reached a four-year, $124MM cope with $100MM guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. McDuffie is now the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
This was the expected final result after the Rams, of 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 – in addition to a 2027 third-rounder to reel within the 25-year-old two-time All-Pro. The Chiefs quickly granted the Rams permission to barter with McDuffie, who had been searching for a market-topping extension.
Now that he is ready 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 amongst corners in guarantees. All three of those players entered the league as first-rounders in 2022, though Stingley is the just 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 2 first-rounders and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
Already a two-time Super Bowl winner, McDuffie will now function a defensive centerpiece for an L.A. team that may enter next season with championship aspirations. The Rams are coming off a yr during which they won 12 regular-season games and added a pair of playoff victories. They allowed the Nineteenth-most passing yards within the league, nevertheless, and had no answer for Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold or superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba within 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 rating.
The Rams are banking on McDuffie to assist them overtake the Seahawks within the NFC West and within the conference next yr. In McDuffie, the Rams acquired a former Washington standout who has began in all 56 of his games in the professionals. While McDuffie has only intercepted three passes in 4 seasons, he has racked up 34 passes defensed and eight forced fumbles. McDuffie, who is flexible enough to play outside and within the slot, ranked as certainly one of Pro Football Focus’ top five corners in 2023 and ’24. Although McDuffie dropped to twelfth last yr, he has still never fallen outside of PFF’s top 20 in a person season
McDuffie is under wraps, but he won’t be the last high-profile player Rams general manager Les Snead extends this offseason. A brand new accord is probably going 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.