The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the more surprising NFL teams this season, and not in a good way.
After falling short in the Super Bowl last season, the team had every intention of getting back there this season. However, entering Week 14, the team is sitting at 6-6 and locked in third place in a tight AFC West.
The team really needed to compete this year considering they are headed for a cap mess this offseason. Currently, the Chiefs are projected to have the least amount of effective cap space in the league in 2026.
As a result, Logan Ulrich of NFL Trade Rumors believes the team could make a bold trade this offseason to free some money. Cornerback Trent McDuffie is someone the team undoubtedly wants to keep around, but he’s a free agent after the 2026 season, and the team may not be able to afford him.
Regarding a potential McDuffie trade, Ulrich offered the following:
Kansas City has McDuffie under contract for one more season, but if it starts to become apparent that an extension is going to be too challenging to negotiate, that’s when a trade becomes an option like it did for Hill. It should also be pointed out that the Chiefs are in a huge cap hole for 2026 right now and need to be conscious of how they spend their money.
As Ulrich pointed out, the Chiefs have McDuffie under contract for the 2026 season, so they don’t have to make a move this offseason. However, if an extension can’t be reached, it would make sense to go ahead and move him rather than risk losing him for nothing.
General manager Brett Veach has also not been shy about moving high-priced veterans in the past. Joe Thuney, Tyreek Hill, and L’Jarius Sneed are all stars who have been traded by Veach when they got too expensive.
McDuffie has a Pro Bowl appearance and two Super Bowl rings already in his career. In 2025, McDuffie has played in all 12 games and has 62 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception.
Pro Football Focus gives McDuffie a 76.7 grade for his 2025 performance, which ranks 6th out of 108 qualified corners. Almost any team would love to trade for a player like McDuffie, but the Chiefs will understandably set a hefty price tag.
If the Chiefs fail to make the postseason, it’s probably more likely to see some notable moves get made this offseason. The team still has three games against AFC West opponents, so anything is possible.
