Rams Urged to Trade for Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie

ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell suggests Rams use 1st-round pick to acquire top cornerback from AFC rival

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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In a recent ESPN article, analyst Bill Barnwell urged the Los Angeles Rams to trade one of their two first-round picks to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for starting cornerback Trent McDuffie. Barnwell believes the Rams' biggest weakness is at cornerback, and McDuffie would provide an immediate upgrade to their secondary.

Why it matters

The Rams and Chiefs are both looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs last season and regain their status as Super Bowl contenders. Improving their defensive backfield is a key priority for the Rams, who struggled at cornerback in 2025. Acquiring a talented young corner like McDuffie could help solidify their defense and put them back in the championship mix.

The details

Barnwell's proposed trade would send the Rams' 2026 first-round pick to the Chiefs in exchange for McDuffie and Kansas City's 2026 fifth-round selection. The Rams have previously traded high draft capital for star cornerbacks like Marcus Peters and Jalen Ramsey, and Barnwell believes McDuffie could be worth a similar investment as a "feisty, aggressive cornerback with the ability to play near the line of scrimmage."

  • The Rams and Chiefs are both looking to rebound after missing the playoffs in 2025.

The players

Trent McDuffie

A starting cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs who would provide an immediate upgrade to the Rams' secondary.

Bill Barnwell

An ESPN analyst who suggested the Rams trade for McDuffie in a recent article.

Los Angeles Rams

An NFL team looking to improve their defense, particularly at the cornerback position, in order to return to the Super Bowl.

Kansas City Chiefs

An NFL team that could be open to trading Trent McDuffie to the Rams in exchange for a first-round pick.

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What they’re saying

“Their biggest weakness is at cornerback, a position Snead has tried to address via trades for young stars in the past. The Rams sent second- and fourth-round picks to the Chiefs for Marcus Peters, and though that didn't work out, Snead followed up by sending two first-round picks to the Jaguars for Jalen Ramsey. That one did. I'm not sure there's a cornerback available worth that sort of haul, but would the Rams use one of their first-rounders to get an immediate difference-maker? McDuffie fits that bill as a feisty, aggressive cornerback with the ability to play near the line of scrimmage.”

— Bill Barnwell, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The Rams and Chiefs would need to negotiate the specifics of a potential trade involving Trent McDuffie and a 2026 first-round pick. The teams would also need to determine if such a deal makes sense for both franchises as they look to improve their rosters and contend for a Super Bowl in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

Upgrading the cornerback position is a clear priority for the Rams this offseason, and acquiring a talented young player like Trent McDuffie from their AFC rival Chiefs could be a bold move to solidify their secondary and put them back in championship contention.