Star cornerback Trent McDuffie just landed among the NFL’s top corners, while teammates Jaylen Watson and Nohl Williams also cracked the top 20.

Now Kansas City faces a dilemma:

Pay McDuffie.
Re-sign Watson.
Or trade their All-Pro corner for draft capital?

Chiefs’ Cornerback Strength Creates a New Problem

For several seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs have quietly built one of the strongest cornerback groups in the NFL.

Despite rarely spending huge money at the position, Kansas City has consistently developed elite defensive backs. Notable names include:

• Marcus Peters

• Charvarius Ward

• L’Jarius Sneed

• Trent McDuffie

• Jaylen Watson

Now that success has created a new challenge.

The team must decide how to handle two key defensive backs this offseason—Watson, who is heading into free agency, and McDuffie, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

New Rankings Highlight McDuffie’s Value

Recent rankings from Pro Football Focus placed Trent McDuffie among the top cornerbacks in the NFL, landing him No. 12 overall.

According to PFF’s analysis, McDuffie’s versatility makes him a key piece in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system.

Even though a knee injury forced him to miss the final four games of the season, McDuffie still posted impressive grades:

• Coverage: 74.7 (17th in the NFL)

• Run defense: 78.5 (14th)

• Tackling: 83.1 (3rd among corners)

Those numbers reinforce why many analysts consider him one of the most complete defensive backs in football.

Young Talent Emerging Behind Him

The rankings also revealed another important development for Kansas City.

Rookie cornerback Nohl Williams ranked No. 16, just four spots behind McDuffie.

Williams stepped into a larger role after McDuffie’s injury and impressed despite limited playing time.

According to PFF:

• He finished with a 75.6 coverage grade

• Ranked in the 93rd percentile in single coverage

Right behind him at No. 17 was Jaylen Watson, who delivered a career-best season.

Watson allowed a 69.0 passer rating in coverage and ranked among the top run-defending cornerbacks in the league.

Chiefs Now Face a Major Roster Crossroads

The problem for Kansas City is simple: they may not be able to keep everyone.

Watson is set to hit free agency, while McDuffie will soon demand a lucrative long-term contract.

Paying both players could be extremely expensive.

That leaves the Chiefs with several possible paths:

Option 1: Extend McDuffie

Keep their two-time All-Pro corner and allow Watson to leave in free agency.

Option 2: Re-sign Watson and Trade McDuffie

Capitalize on McDuffie’s value and acquire draft picks.

Option 3: Move on From Both

Trust younger players like Williams and rebuild the secondary through the draft.

Emerging Depth Makes the Decision Even Harder

Kansas City also saw promising performances from cornerback Kristian Fulton late in the season.

Other defensive backs currently under contract include:

• Kevin Knowles

• Melvin Smith Jr.

• Chris Roland-Wallace

This depth could give the Chiefs confidence to move on from one of their top players—especially if a trade brings valuable draft picks.

A Defining Decision for Kansas City

The Chiefs have repeatedly shown they are willing to make difficult roster decisions if it helps the team remain competitive long-term.

But moving on from a player like Trent McDuffie would be a huge gamble.

With Patrick Mahomes still leading a championship window, Kansas City must decide whether keeping an elite cornerback—or collecting draft assets—offers the better path back to the Super Bowl.

And thanks to these new rankings, that decision just became even more complicated. 🏈