Rams Sign Trent McDuffie to Record-Breaking $124M Deal

4-year contract includes $100M in guaranteed money, making McDuffie the highest-paid CB in NFL history.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Los Angeles Rams have signed cornerback Trent McDuffie to a 4-year, $124 million contract extension, including $100 million in guaranteed money. The deal makes McDuffie the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, surpassing the $30.1 million annual salary of the Indianapolis Colts' Sauce Gardner.

Why it matters

This record-breaking contract for McDuffie underscores the Rams' commitment to building a championship-caliber defense and their belief in the 24-year-old cornerback's potential. It also reflects the increasing value placed on elite defensive backs in the modern NFL.

The details

The Rams acquired McDuffie in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week, sending four draft picks, including a 2023 first-rounder, to Kansas City. McDuffie had 63 total tackles, one sack, and one interception in 13 games for the Chiefs last season before a knee injury cut his campaign short.

  • On Wednesday, the Rams traded for McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • On Sunday, March 9, 2026, the Rams signed McDuffie to a 4-year, $124 million contract extension.

The players

Trent McDuffie

A 24-year-old cornerback who was recently traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Los Angeles Rams.

Sauce Gardner

A cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts who previously held the record for highest-paid CB in the NFL at $30.1 million per year.

Los Angeles Rams

The NFL team that signed Trent McDuffie to a record-breaking contract extension.

Kansas City Chiefs

The NFL team that traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This deal will make McDuffie the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at $31 million a season, slightly more than the $30.1 million that Sauce Gardner receives from the Indianapolis Colts.”

— Adam Schefter, ESPN Reporter (ESPN)

What’s next

The Rams will look to McDuffie to anchor their secondary and help lead their defense as they aim to return to the Super Bowl in the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Rams' record-breaking contract for Trent McDuffie underscores the increasing value placed on elite defensive backs in the modern NFL and the team's commitment to building a championship-caliber defense around young, talented players.