Kansas City’s cornerback is receiving the recognition he deserves.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler published his final insider top-10 list of 2025: this one on cornerbacks. The Denver Broncos’ Patrick Surtain II — always a thorn in the side of the Kansas City Chiefs — topped the ranking, which was based on the voting of league executives, coaches and scouts.
Surtain was followed by Derek Stingley of the Houston Texans, the Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward, and one of the Chiefs’ own coming in at fourth.
4. Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 3
Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 24
Last year’s ranking: 6McDuffie has emerged as one of the league’s most versatile corners. In 2023, he often played from the slot, disrupting opposing offenses with three sacks and five forced fumbles. In 2024, he was featured more on the outside, due in part to injuries.
McDuffie aligned as a wide cornerback on a career-high 82.6% of snaps in 2024 — his previous career high was 66.8% as a rookie in 2022. He was up to the challenge of playing outside, producing 11 pass deflections and two interceptions on 90 targets.
“Elite instincts to key/diagnose. Understands all the leverages you need to play within the playcall,” an NFL coordinator said. “He has movement and strength to defend smaller players and enough speed and leaping ability to defend bigger players. Strong tackler. Complete player.”
McDuffie is also part of that accomplished 2022 draft class with three players (Stingley, Gardner, McDuffie) on this year’s top 10. All three have been named a first-team All-Pro. McDuffie was one of three cornerbacks on every ballot.
“His versatility has been so valuable to [the Chiefs],” a veteran NFL assistant coach said. “There are instances where he can struggle to finish on contested catches vs. bigger receivers, but overall, he is very solid, has great instincts and technique and is very smart.”
The concern surrounding McDuffie is simple: His size (5-foot-11, 193 pounds) gives him a disadvantage compared to his peers.
“He does give something up to bigger receivers, but he literally does everything else so well, so I don’t knock him for that,” an NFC executive said.
My take
Following an aggressive 2022 draft night trade-up, McDuffie came to Kansas City under intense pressure as essentially the main return from the then-controversial trade of wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. The former Washington standout has more than lived up to the billing. The Chiefs have advanced to the Super Bowl in each of his three seasons (unfortunately, winning only twice) with McDuffie being named a first-team All-Pro in 2023. He followed up with a second-team nod last season.
McDuffie’s versatility in lining up outside or in the slot has been a boon for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. While most defensive backs can be effective blitzers, McDuffie has mastered hiding his intentions to keep opposing passers on his heels. A minor criticism through the first part of his career was a lack of interceptions (partially due to a lack of targets against him). McDuffie answered by finally snagging a pair of passes last season.
As he enters his fourth training camp with the Chiefs, McDuffie’s contract will be a closely watched topic following developments with two other first-round cornerbacks from 2022. Stingley signed a three-year extension worth $90 million early in the offseason. This week, the New York Jets’ Sauce Gardner — ranked immediately behind McDuffie on this list — just agreed to a four-year $120.4 million extension with $60 million in new money guaranteed.
The Texans and Jets are rolling the massive extensions into the two remaining low-cost seasons on Stingley and Gardner’s rookie contracts. With so much negotiating done by other clubs, it will be interesting to see if the Chiefs and McDuffie can reach a similar agreement before the season starts.