Austin Konenski
The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs have pulled off a blockbuster trade involving cornerback Trent McDuffie. The Rams are sending the 29th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a 2026 fifth-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick for McDuffie. It is major move that adds to the Los Angeles secondary.
Below, we dive into the winners and losers from the McDuffie trade between the Chiefs and Rams!
Winner: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams entered the 2026 NFL offseason needing help in the secondary, specifically at cornerback. McDuffie is very good in coverage and run defense, giving Los Angeles a much-needed lockdown defender on the outside. With only one year left on his contract, McDuffie plans on signing a long-term extension with the Rams. Los Angeles gave up a significant amount of draft picks, but the All-Pro cornerback is worth the price.
Loser: Kansas City Chiefs’ Secondary
Kansas City’s secondary is the biggest loser in this trade. By moving McDuffie, the Chiefs have Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams as their starting cornerbacks, which cannot be the case moving into the 2026-27 NFL season. The Chiefs figure to make at least one move for a cornerback during the offseason, but it will be very hard to replace McDuffie’s production on the field.
Winner: Kansas City’s Front Office
Kansas City’s front office did very well by trading McDuffie to Los Angeles. The Chiefs’ secondary has regressed, but the 29th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and three more picks is very strong. Plus, the 25-year-old cornerback was set to become a free agent after the upcoming season. This move allows the Chiefs to recoup value for McDuffie, add cap flexibility, and find a highly-ranked prospect in the NFL Draft.
Loser: Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions, but this is a major impact on its chances to repeat. The Seahawks’ top needs going into the 2026 NFL offseason are at running back and cornerback. With Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe becoming free agents, Seattle has a need at the cornerback position. Instead of acquiring McDuffie, the organization watched as its biggest rival completed a deal.
Winner: Los Angeles’ Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula
Los Angeles’ defensive coordinator Chris Shula is a big winner. After a strong 2025-26 NFL season, Shula’s secondary struggled down the stretch. It affected the play calling on defense, as the secondary was unreliable. Now, Shula can be more confident with his secondary and position himself for a stronger defense in 2026-27. If all goes well, it could lead to an NFL head coaching job sooner rather than later.
