The Los Angeles Rams reached an settlement with newly acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie on a document four-year, $124 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL historical past, in keeping with ESPN. The deal contains $100 million assured and units McDuffie as much as earn a mean of $31 million per 12 months.
The expectation when the Rams agreed to a commerce with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on March 4 was that they might come to phrases on a brand new contract for McDuffie. It took a matter of days for them to lock up their prized defensive again for the long run. McDuffie will be a part of the Rams formally when the brand new league 12 months begins on March 11 in return for 4 draft picks.
McDuffie was set to enter the ultimate season of his contract when the Chiefs picked up his fifth-year choice. Normal supervisor Brett Veach put the two-time All-Professional on the commerce block, although, as a substitute of paying as much as maintain him past 2026. McDuffie would have made $13.6 million on his previous contract however will as a substitute make greater than double that determine in his debut season in Los Angeles.
It was a cost-cutting measure for the Chiefs, who entered the offseason greater than $57 million over the wage cap and nonetheless wanted to shed house upfront of the brand new league 12 months. On the opposite aspect of the deal, the Rams secured a right away elite contributor to a roster they hope is able to successful a Tremendous Bowl as quickly as subsequent 12 months. They crammed a spot of their best place group of want within the course of.
McDuffie was all the time going to receives a commission; it was only a matter of whether or not it will be with the Chiefs or one other workforce. In the long run, the Rams agreed to pay him the largest annual wage the NFL has ever seen at his place — practically $1 million greater than what Sauce Gardner earns with the Indianapolis Colts.
NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks
Wage information by way of Over The Cap
McDuffie’s play over the primary 4 years of his profession justified the payday. He slotted in as a first-year contributor in Kansas Metropolis in 2022 and performed an integral function within the Chiefs’ back-to-back Tremendous Bowl runs that 12 months and the subsequent. McDuffie racked up three interceptions and 34 passes defended throughout his 4 years within the AFC West, and he tacked on eight pressured fumbles, together with 5 within the 2023 season alone.
