Trent McDuffie stands out as the Kansas City Chiefs' most talented player in the secondary-a young talent that any team would want to secure with a contract extension as free agency looms. However, the Chiefs find themselves in a tricky financial situation, both in the present and looking ahead, which makes McDuffie's future with the team an intriguing puzzle as he approaches his fifth NFL season.
Currently, the Chiefs hold McDuffie's rights after exercising their fifth-year option last year. Drafted in the first round in 2022 at No. 21 overall-alongside George Karlaftis at No. 30-McDuffie is set to stay in Kansas City for another season before hitting free agency in 2027.
The Chiefs have been vocal about their interest in extending McDuffie's contract. Last August, General Manager Brett Veach emphasized their priority to secure McDuffie, stating, "Trent’s obviously a guy that we want to make it a priority to get that done." This isn’t the first time Veach has expressed such intentions.
Yet, the NFL is a dynamic landscape, and Kansas City has shifted gears on players before. Remember Tyreek Hill? He was negotiating an extension when market changes led to his trade to the Miami Dolphins.
The notion of trading Trent McDuffie has transitioned from a fringe concept to a more widely discussed possibility within NFL circles.
Fans have been buzzing about a potential McDuffie trade on social media for some time. Analysts and NFL writers have also started to entertain the idea, presenting various trade scenarios.
Daniel Jeremiah, in his latest mock draft, highlighted the Dallas Cowboys, who hold two first-round picks at No. 12 and 20. Jeremiah suggests, "If the Chiefs would take this pick in a trade for Trent McDuffie entering the final year of his rookie deal, the Cowboys would solve their secondary issues in the blink of an eye."
Trading McDuffie has become a mainstream discussion, despite his status as the Chiefs' top defender outside of Chris Jones. While his value is clear, trading him would leave a gap in the Chiefs' defense. Complicating matters is his role as a slot corner, which involves financial considerations, especially given the Chiefs' challenging salary cap situation as the new league year approaches.
The future of McDuffie remains uncertain, even to those within Arrowhead. The stakes are high, and the situation is fluid, leaving Veach to possibly wait for various scenarios to unfold. Whether fans are on board or not, a McDuffie trade seems more plausible now than ever before.