While the Chiefs are confident they can fill the hole left by the departure of the 2023 All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, the Rams are apparently just as confident McDuffie can be the defensive end to make a push for the Lombardi Trophy.
McDuffie, a 2022 first-rounder, is set to play 2026 on a fifth-year rookie option for $13.63 million.
There are currently three cornerbacks (Sauce Gardner of the Indianapolis Colts, Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns and Jaycee Horn of the Carolina Panthers) with a combined value of $100 million or more. Gardner leads the clubhouse in average annual salary at $30.1 million, while Houston Texans tight end Derek Stingley Jr. is second at an even $30 million.
McDuffie appears to be close to achieving that rarefied air, which underscores why the Chiefs didn’t think they could afford to keep him and why the Rams believe so strongly that he’s such a valuable addition.