The Kansas City Chiefs have already brought back two of their young stars for the 2025 season with right guard Trey Smith and linebacker Nick Bolton. While Smith is only on the franchise tag for 2025, the Chiefs plan to work out an expensive long-term deal with the Pro-Bowl guard. That said, Kansas City has another young star defender who is looking for a contract extension by the 2026 offseason.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie's rookie contract is up at the end of next season, which means he will be due for a significant increase. Unfortunately, Kansas City just got a glimpse of what the number may look like and it's steep.
According to Ian Rapoport, the Carolina Panthers gave cornerback Jaycee Horn a four-year $100 million extension with $70 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. Although Horn is a Pro Bowler, McDuffie is a two-time All-Pro and should rightfully be paid like it.
Sources: There is a new highest-paid DB in the NFL history — as the #Panthers agreed on a huge extension with Pro Bowl CB Jaycee Horn.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2025
He gets a 4-year, $100M deal ($25M per year), with $70M guaranteed. Negotiated by Trevon Smith & David Mulugheta of @AthletesFirst. 💰 💰 💰 pic.twitter.com/XsIzIJm9Uw
Trent McDuffie's Asking Price Just Skyrocketed
In three seasons, McDuffie has earned First-Team All-Pro honors once and Second-Team All-Pro honors once. In addition, the 24-year-old earned Defensive Player of the Year votes in 2024.
McDuffie has earned these accolades by recording 183 tackles, 10 TFLs, 27 pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions. Furthermore, he has never had a coverage grade lower than 75, according to PFF,
Nonetheless, Kansas City was in a similar situation with L'Jarius Sneed during the 2024 offseason. That resulted in Sneed being traded to the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 third-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick. However, Sneed never reached the heights of McDuffie, so it's hard to see a world where Kansas City tags and trades McDuffie in 2026.
With Horn's record-setting deal, McDuffie will be in line for an even bigger deal. As a result, McDuffie, future will be a huge storyline going into the 2025 season .