The Kansas City Chiefs secure valuable draft picks and cap flexibility by trading star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams.
The Kansas City Chiefs' roster has undergone a lot of changes this offseason.
One big move was the Chiefs trading away star cornerback Trent McDuffie right before the start of free agency. The Chiefs sent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for draft picks.
Kansas City acquired the Rams' No. 29 overall pick in this year's draft, plus this year's fifth-round pick, sixth-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick, so it was a solid package coming back for a player the franchise had no intention to sign to a long-term deal.
However, with Bryan Cook and Jaylen Watson leaving KC in free agency (Watson went to the Rams), the secondary took a major hit.
ESPN's Seth Walder graded some of the offseason moves, and the Chiefs got an A- for the McDuffie trade. Now, sending a Pro Bowl-type cornerback away is always a tough decision, but the Chiefs' landing a first-round pick is a smart move.
" The surplus value going back to Kansas City is large. Draft picks are never a guarantee, but when teams hit on them they end up with players on undervalued contracts with four (or five) years of team control," Walder wrote.
In hindsight, it makes sense. The Chiefs weren't going to invest money long-term in McDuffie, mainly because they don't have it.
And, there are plenty of cornerbacks in this draft, and now the Chiefs have a pair of first-round picks at their disposal, which means they can select at least one.
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love was commonly mocked to the Chiefs, but the free agent signing of Kenneth Walker III solidifies the RB position for now, so that doesn't seem to be a major need anymore.
For the Rams, adding MCDuffie makes sense, too. The Rams' Super Bowl window is shrinking soon with Matthew Stafford likely in his final season and Davante Adams getting older, plus the Rams making the NFC title game this past postseason.
So, adding an experienced player such as McDuffie rather than a rookie makes a lot of sense, and they tied him to the franchise for a few years after giving him a new contract.
If the Chiefs can add a cornerback or two, either in the draft or in the free agency bargain bin, then this move makes even more sense.
And, the Chiefs now have a surplus of picks to work with due to the McDuffie move. This is another good job by the KC front office.