Just days after being acquired in a stunning trade, cornerback Trent McDuffie is reportedly on the verge of signing a contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams that would make him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.
According to multiple reports, the agreement is a four-year, $124 million extension featuring a staggering $100 million in guaranteed money. The deal, which hasn’t been officially confirmed by the team, would keep the Southern California native with his hometown squad through the 2030 season.
A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations shared the details with the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday night, noting the deal is still being finalized. The Rams are currently unable to publicly acknowledge the trade that brought McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs last Wednesday in exchange for a package of draft picks.
If completed, the contract would surpass the previous benchmark set by Jalen Ramsey, who inked a five-year, $105 million extension with the Rams back in 2020. McDuffie is currently slated to make $13.6 million in 2026, the fifth and final year of his rookie deal.
The move signals the Rams’ aggressive intent to shore up their defense after falling just short of the Super Bowl last season. With one of the league’s most budget-friendly defensive units in 2025—a group that struggled down the stretch and into the playoffs—Los Angeles now has the cap space to make a major splash by locking down a proven playmaker.
McDuffie brings a versatile skill set to the secondary. Throughout his four-year NFL career, he’s recorded three interceptions, 5.5 sacks, and an impressive 34 quarterback pressures—the most among all cornerbacks. He’s also forced eight fumbles. His standout play earned him first-team AP All-Pro honors in 2023 and a second-team nod the following year.
The Rams have already extended safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl, and McDuffie’s arrival is expected to add even more flexibility to the defensive scheme. His ability to play physically in coverage and as a run defender will allow the team to deploy him in multiple roles, potentially stepping into the “star” position once manned by Ramsey.
McDuffie’s journey to the Rams has a full-circle feel. Raised in the Los Angeles area, he starred at St. John Bosco High School before heading to the University of Washington, where he played under current Rams defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake.
To land the star corner, the Rams surrendered the 29th overall pick in this year’s draft—they still hold the 13th pick, originally from Atlanta—along with fifth- and sixth-round selections this season and a third-round pick in 2027.
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