The Kansas City Chiefs made one of the blockbuster trades of the offseason, sending star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a haul of draft picks, including a first-rounder in this year’s draft.
The move was a part of a major defensive overhaul this offseason, as the Chiefs lost a pair of starting cornerbacks as they look to get younger and cheaper with the draft. Kansas City also lost safety Bryan Cook, linebacker Leo Chenal, and a couple of other pieces this offseason, which makes this draft very imperative to their success in 2026 and beyond.
With some extra draft capital from the McDuffie trade, let’s look at the full details and see what to look forward to for the Chiefs.
Kansas City Chiefs receive: 2026 first-round pick (No. 29), 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 169), 2026 sixth-round pick (No. 210), and 2027 third-round pick
That means the deal won’t be finalized until a year from now unless Kansas City uses the third-rounder as part of a 2026 NFL Draft trade.
The Chiefs pick 29th overall and we will update when they make the pick.
This article was published during the first round, and we will update when the picks are used in the fifth and sixth rounds.
In his fourth season with the Chiefs, McDuffie missed out on the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection, as he played in just 13 games while dealing with injury. Still, he had 63 tackles, seven pass breakups, and an interception, according to Pro Football Reference.
While the counting stats may not have jumped off the page, McDuffie was still quite effective as a press coverage defender until his season was cut short during Week 14. Now, he’ll be entering his prime, but on a new team.
This is a gamble by the Chiefs, who will have to rely on their draft expertise to make a big selection at No. 29. This pick will likely define the trade, but the Chiefs made the decision not to hand McDuffie a huge four-year, $124 million contract.
Kansas City has developed cornerback talent well, and they’ll have to do so again after losing both McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason. The key part, as mentioned above, is drafting. They need more production from their first-round picks, and they’ve got a big chance with two first-rounders in this draft.