Chiefs Roster: Trent McDuffie named a top-five cornerback by PFF

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie is feeling the love from Pro Football Focus this offseason. Two weeks after PFF made McDuffie Kansas City’s sole representative on the “25 under 25” list, a new ranking on Tuesday listed him among the NFL’s top five cornerbacks.

Only New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (No. 1) and Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II rank ahead of McDuffie.

3. TRENT MCDUFFIE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

McDuffie, the highest-graded cornerback in PFF’s advanced metrics in 2024, has been highly underrated to start his career. His PFF advanced coverage grade ranks second across the past three years — and first across the past two years — while his standard PFF coverage grade in that span (89.0) places fourth.

The Chiefs don’t ask McDuffie to shadow opposing receivers, but his ability to stay tight in coverage is elite.

My take

After the Chiefs traded cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans last offseason, McDuffie had to play outside more often in 2024, which is reflected in his snap numbers.

In 2023, McDuffie lined up as a slot defender 608 times as opposed to 368 on the outside. That flipped in 2024, with 152 slot snaps in comparison to 953 on the outside. Kansas City has been intentional about correcting that this offseason, signing veteran cornerback Kristian Fulton to a two-year contract.

Should Fulton and Jaylen Watson stay healthy, the Chiefs will have two outside cornerbacks they trust, affording defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo the ability to use McDuffie in the way that best suits the situation.

“They kind of talked about wanting to put me back at inside in certain situations, things like that,” said McDuffie of last year’s exit interview. “It kind of just allowed me to influence the game a little bit more in there — a little bit more blitz and things like that. As far as playing outside and matching up, it’s still early, but I told them anything I can do truly like — outside, inside, cover, whoever you need me to do — that’s where I stand ever since I’ve came in, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

So PFF’s highest-graded cornerback should now be back in the versatile position in which he is most comfortable. Maybe there is a chance next year’s edition sees McDuffie as the No. 1 cornerback in the league.

That probably means Kansas City should get his new contract done as soon as possible. But that’s a conversation for another day.