For the most part, it’s been a summer of continuity for the Kansas City Chiefs. While there are some positions with new faces, the majority of the core roster from 2024-25’s Super Bowl-losing group is back. Heck, some of them are even signed to long-term contracts to keep them around.
Linebacker Nick Bolton, defensive end George Karlaftis and right guard Trey Smith are prime examples of the Chiefs taking care of their own. Could cornerback Trent McDuffie be up next? It’d make plenty of sense.
Luckily, McDuffie provided an update on where things are going when he spoke on “Up & Adams” at training camp.
McDuffie: ‘Things Are Looking Good’ on Contract Front
McDuffie said he trusts his agent to do honest work with the Chiefs moving forward.
“I truly feel like my agent, our relationship has grown so much over these past three years,” McDuffie said. “That is one of my favorite human beings on the planet Earth. I feel like I have the best agent ever. He keeps me up to date. If they talk at 6 a.m., [I’m] getting a call at 6:01 a.m. telling me about everything they talk about. Because of that, I feel like I’m just truly allowed to focus on ball, focus on St. Joe, focus on football and honestly not even worry about the contract.”
Right now, securing that lucrative pact from the franchise isn’t weighing on his mind.
“If I get paid, I get paid,” McDuffie said. “I know it’s coming. Right now, I don’t want to really worry about it. I want to really just focus on doing what I can for this team and letting all that contract, all that money stuff be handled by my agent.”
Whenever that time comes, rest assured knowing McDuffie will be rewarded. In just three seasons with the Chiefs, he’s already established himself as a premier player. Fresh off a first-team All-Pro nod in 2023, last year saw the former first-round pick rack up 59 tackles (6 for loss) with 13 passes broken up and a pair of interceptions. He made second-team All-Pro for his performance. Advanced stat outlets like Pro Football Focus also loved McDuffie’s play; he posted an 83.1 overall grade on the year.
McDuffie’s number is likely set. After all, New York Jets star Sauce Gardner tops the market now on a four-year $120.4 million deal that averages $30.1M per season. Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans is right behind him at $30M annually.
With that in mind, McDuffie is at ease.
“Things are looking good out here and KC,” McDuffie said.
Chiefs Still Shuffling Pieces in Secondary During Preseason
Aside from McDuffie, the Chiefs have some things to sort out in the secondary. At cornerback, specifically, Kristian Fulton is back in the fold but isn’t out of the woods yet. He’s expected to assume a starting role on the boundary once he’s back to full strength following a knee procedure. Jaylen Watson, a draft classmate of McDuffie’s, is entering a contract year. His 2024-25 season was a mixed bag filled with injury but also some excellent play early on.
It’s the depth at cornerback that’s questionable. Rookie Nohl Williams flashed in his preseason debut, but he’s far out from being a viable option. Joshua Williams’ spot on the roster isn’t secure whatsoever. Players like Chris Roland-Wallace and Nazeeh Johnson are favorites of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo but may not be able to rise in the event of an injury.
The Chiefs’ safety picture also complicates things. It’s expected that following Justin Reid‘s departure, Bryan Cook and 2024 fourth-round pick Jaden Hicks will start. Despite that, Chamarri Conner got premium reps in Kansas City’s preseason opener versus the Arizona Cardinals. Conner, who got reps as a slot corner last season, is the wild card of the group. His role could have a domino effect on the rest of the secondary.
Spagnuolo and Co. can count on McDuffie, which is a nice start. General manager Brett Veach will work with the star cornerback’s reps to get a deal done down the line.
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