The Los Angeles Rams have made Trent McDuffie the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Following the blockbuster trade between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, which sent All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the West Coast, the Rams have now made him the highest-paid cornerback in the league.
McDuffie has received a massive four-year, $124 million extension, which averages to $31 million per season, breaking Sauce Gardner's $30.1 million per season.
NFL insider Ari Meirov reported on the extension, stating:
"BREAKING: The #Rams and CB Trent McDuffie have agreed to terms on a deal to make him the highest-paid CB in NFL history, per @AdamSchefter. McDuffie gets a 4-year, $124M extension — surpassing Sauce Gardner with an average of $31M per year."
The Rams were in desperate need of secondary help after the defense gave up 276.0 passing yards per game in 2025.
Ahead of free agency, they did just that, bringing the young cornerback over to Los Angeles. The Rams received McDuffie in exchange for the No. 29 overall pick, a 2026 fifth and sixth round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick.
Now, the Rams have locked up McDuffie for the next four seasons.
McDuffie has played four seasons in the NFL, all with the Chiefs. In those four seasons, he was named a First-team All-Pro in 2022, and a Second-team All-Pro in 2023. He was also nominated as Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
Through four seasons, he has secured three interceptions, 34 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, 5.5 sacks, and 246 total tackles. McDuffie has also given up 13 touchdowns, a 61.0 completion percentage, and 89.4 passer rating to opposing quarterabcks.
McDuffie is the kind of lockdown cornerback that the Rams have needed since Jalen Ramsey took his exit from the team. There is likely to be more work done in the secondary, but Los Angeles now has a strong unit.
With McDuffie signed, the Rams also have safety and captain Quentin Lake, and standout Kam Curl, who signed a three-year, $36 million contract.
The Rams might bring back Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant, both of whom are set to test free agency when tampering begins on Monday.
Los Angeles also still has the No. 13 overall pick and could use that to draft someone like LSU's Mansoor Delane, who could come in and line up alongside McDuffie, bringing together a truly evolved secondary.