The 2025 season was a rocky one for the Kansas City Chiefs. It was disappointing and pulled the team away from its prime. It also kept Patrick Mahomes from contending for another Super Bowl and snapped a streak that had lasted since 2018, in which the franchise had reached at least the AFC Championship Game every year.
For Mahomes and company, finishing with a 6-11 record was a heavy blow. Problems began right at the start of the campaign with two consecutive defeats that ultimately hurt their chances of reaching the postseason.
New development arrives for the Chiefs
On Monday, February 16, 2026, Pro Football Focus released its list of the Top 101 players. Within it, defensive tackle Chris Jones appeared at No. 100 for the previous season.
The surprise came with the inclusion of Trent McDuffie. The cornerback managed to earn a spot on the list and demonstrate that his level continues to improve, and that at 25 years old he still has more to give to himself and to his team.
The fourth-year cornerback turned in another strong season, further establishing himself as a complete player.”…”McDuffie was one of just four cornerbacks to rank in the top 20 in both PFF coverage grade and PFF run-defense grade. He allowed just 9.2 receiving yards per reception, which ranked tied for fourth among cornerbacks.
PFF stated.
The player has established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league, especially in recent years. Despite his 5-foot-10 frame, he has performed at a high level against receivers who surpass him in size and strength.
McDuffie’s near future with the Kansas City Chiefs
McDuffie joined the Chiefs in 2022 and will now be entering the final year of his rookie contract, which guarantees him $13.6 million. While he appears to be a key defensive back who could help reshape the team in 2026, there are several issues that might limit his long-term stay with the franchise.
- The first is that the Chiefs are $54.9 million over the salary cap, the highest figure in the entire league. That makes it a priority for the organization to create financial space, and McDuffie could become part of that solution.
His strong abilities across the secondary could make him valuable in a trade that would help free up cap room.
- The second issue is that the team does not typically invest heavily in cornerbacks, which means they might wait to move him once his rookie deal expires.
Things could become either complicated or straightforward for the Chiefs, depending on how they handle the offseason and the decisions they make with their roster.
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