Rams Bolster Secondary with McDuffie and Watson Acquisitions

Former Chiefs teammates reunite in Los Angeles with Super Bowl aspirations

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:49pm

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The Los Angeles Rams have added cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who were previously teammates with the Kansas City Chiefs. The two defensive backs are reuniting in Los Angeles, bringing their chemistry and championship pedigree to the Rams as the team looks to make a Super Bowl run.

Why it matters

The Rams are shoring up a weakness in their secondary after it became a liability last season. By acquiring McDuffie and Watson, who have experience playing together and winning at the highest level, the team is positioning itself to have a formidable defensive backfield that can match up with any offense in the league.

The details

McDuffie and Watson were part of the same 2022 draft class with the Chiefs, and over the past four seasons they combined for 424 tackles, 6 interceptions, 58 pass breakups, and 9.5 sacks while patrolling the Kansas City secondary. The two players are now reunited in Los Angeles, with McDuffie signing a record-breaking $124 million contract over 4 years to become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, and Watson inking a 3-year, $51 million deal.

  • McDuffie and Watson were teammates with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2022 to 2025.
  • The Rams acquired McDuffie in a trade with the Chiefs in March 2026, sending two first-round picks and four total picks to Kansas City.
  • The Rams signed Watson as a free agent in March 2026, shortly after acquiring McDuffie.

The players

Trent McDuffie

A cornerback who was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and spent the first four years of his NFL career there, winning two Super Bowls. He is now joining the Los Angeles Rams on a record-breaking $124 million contract over 4 years.

Jaylen Watson

A cornerback who was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and played alongside Trent McDuffie in the Chiefs' secondary for the past four seasons. He is now reuniting with McDuffie after signing a 3-year, $51 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams.

Sean McVay

The head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, who is excited about the additions of McDuffie and Watson to his team's secondary.

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What they’re saying

“It's a beautiful thing,”

— Trent McDuffie (nypost.com)

“It's not only just any teammate. It's one of my closest teammates.”

— Jaylen Watson (nypost.com)

“I hope you're excited,”

— Sean McVay, Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams (nypost.com)

“I am. Well, you're not as excited as I am!”

— Jaylen Watson (nypost.com)

What’s next

The Rams will look to integrate McDuffie and Watson into their defensive scheme as they prepare for the upcoming season with Super Bowl aspirations.

The takeaway

The Rams have made a concerted effort to upgrade their secondary by reuniting two talented cornerbacks who have already proven they can excel together at the highest level. This move strengthens the team's defense and gives them an experienced, championship-caliber duo to lead their defensive backfield.