The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers face off on Friday, September 6, in Brazil.
The defending AFC champion Chiefs have been discussing a contract extension with star cornerback Trent McDuffie for the past few months. However, it doesn’t seem like a deal will get done before opening day, per Nate Taylor of ESPN.
“The Chiefs and Trent McDuffie, the team’s top cornerback, are not expected to agree to a multiyear contract extension before Kansas City’s season starts, sources told ESPN on Sunday.”
McDuffie, who played college football at Washington, was the 21st overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft by the Chiefs, who used the Dolphins’ first-round choice acquired via the Tyreek Hill trade to move up to select McDuffie.
With the Chiefs, McDuffie has certainly lived up to the early draft pick. He has appeared in 43 regular-season games with a pair of interceptions and seven forced fumbles in three seasons in Kansas City while being a two-time All-Pro.
Per Nate Taylor, McDuffie is set to earn $2,613,066 in 2025, although the team decided to exercise the fifth-year option for McDuffie, which guarantees him $13.6 million in 2026.
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Earlier in August, Chiefs GM Brett Veach mentioned they have had “dialogue.”
“We definitely have had dialogue,” Veach said. “He’s a guy that’s obviously a special player. We’re going to continue that dialogue, and hopefully something gets worked out. I think things have been good. Trent is obviously going to be a priority.”
Even though the Chiefs and McDuffie weren’t able to reach a deal, the All-Pro cornerback is ready to play this season.
“I’m not too worried about the contract. That can just happen in the [next] offseason. Let’s just go out there and have a great year,” McDuffie said.
New York Jets CB Sauce Gardner, who was selected fourth overall in the same draft, inked a four-year, $120 million contract extension in July, and SB Nation predicted McDuffie’s next contract at three years and $97 million, which would put his AAV over Gardner’s.
All in all, McDuffie and the Chiefs appear set to begin the year without a new deal.
For more on the Kansas City Chiefs and general NFL news, head to Newsweek Sports
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