Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie has issued a major challenge to Puka Nacua.
The Los Angeles Rams upgraded their secondary in a major way by trading for and signing All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. The former Kansas City Chiefs secondary star will now play a major part on defense, and he has already issued a challenge to Puka Nacua.
One of the biggest ways the Rams improved was the addition of McDuffie, along with fellow teammate Jaylen Watson. With both cornerbacks in the building, the defense was upgraded in a major way.
The Rams gave up a fourth-worst 276 passing yards per game, which is nowhere near what should have been the case to combat passers like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
Clearly, the weaker secondary was on display in the NFC Championship, as Darnold threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns. With the Super Bowl now running through Seattle, the Rams got to work.
What makes the addition of McDuffie even better is that the young cornerback will line up plenty against Nacua in training camp and preseason, which will add value to the metaphor of "iron sharpens iron."
Both players will elevate one another, and McDuffie already issued a major challenge to his offensive counterpart.
"I told him he better be ready for practice because that’s going to be some of the best competition we’re going to have, is one-on-ones, me and Puka, just like we did in college," McDuffie said on ESPNLA radio. "I mean, we were going against each other all day, every day. I’m sure he’s going to win some, but I'm definitely going to go out there and win some, too."
McDuffie is heading into his fifth season in the NFL, and Nacua is heading into his fourth. The Rams locked the defender up in a four-year deal, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league.
Simply put, the Rams will presumably have both McDuffie and Nacua on the same team for multiple years, which will lead to plenty of matchups for the pair.
Nacua is arguably the best receiver in the league, and McDuffie remains one of the best secondary players. They can only make one another better, which was likely why the Rams and Les Snead gave the former Chiefs corner the contract he received.
Training camp is only a few months away, and the world will get to see how both not only line up with one another, but also who wins in head-to-head battles.