Arrowhead Report

Chiefs Trade Up, Land Washington CB Trent McDuffie

After standing pat through the first 20 picks of the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs made their jump to No. 21 overall.

Joshua Brisco

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After standing pat through the first 20 picks of the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs made their jump to No. 21 overall to draft Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie. The move up to No. 21 cost the Chiefs the No. 29 overall pick in addition to the No. 94 and No. 121 selections.

Sep 4, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Trent McDuffie (22) participates in pregame warmups against the Montana Grizzlies at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

McDuffie, a three-year starter, tested extremely well throughout the pre-draft process, despite being a bit under 5-foot-11. Largely considered to be a top-three cornerback in this draft class, his positional versatility fits the type of defensive backs the Chiefs covet. McDuffie allowed 3.1 yards per target in 2021, the best number in FBS, according to Cynthia Frelund.

Jordan Foote of Arrowhead Report wrote about McDuffie's fit with the Chiefs leading up to the draft, noting his pros and cons as a polished and versatile athlete, despite having shorter arms than other top-tier corners.

If Trent McDuffie had longer arms, there wouldn't be much discussion of him outside of the first round. With sub-30" arms, though, that's a major point of hesitation. It's also worth noting that he didn't play a ton of press coverage at Washington. Those two points are worthy of bringing up but when looking past that, it's easy to see why McDuffie remains a highly sought-after cornerback prospect.

Athletically, McDuffie is great. He has a sturdy frame and is quick, agile and has good top-end speed. His fluid hips allow him to mirror opposing receivers to near-perfection, and his high processing speed gives him an added advantage in both man and zone coverage. McDuffie is a trusted and proven performer who will instantly make any defense he joins better.

He won't have much of a learning curve in the NFL, but the lack of press reps is a bit concerning. The arm length is, too, which makes him more of a slot cornerback moving forward than anything else. If the Chiefs are comfortable moving L'Jarius Sneed to the outside and making room for McDuffie, he'd be a tremendous addition to their defense.

Nov 28, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Trent McDuffie (22) celebrates with teammates including defensive back Kyler Gordon (2) and linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (48) and defensive lineman Tuli Letuligasenoa (91) and defensive back Kamren Fabiculanan (31) following an interception against the Utah Utes during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

FanNation's Inside the Huskies summarized McDuffie's diverse set of strengths:

NFL teams loved him and his analytical mind in individual interviews and his 4.4-second 40-yard time didn't hurt him either. He told them he could play cornerback, safety or nickelback if he needed. The pros are just a tad concerned about his 5-foot-10 size and limited length.

According to NFL Draft Bible, here's what McDuffie can bring to the Chiefs:

McDuffie is a player who could be pigeon-holed into a sub-package role because of his lack of size and strength. Still, a zone-heavy system will increase how much he’s tasked with, and he’s been a contributor at Washington since he was a freshman. He’s got terrific instincts and a natural feel for positioning in both coverage and taking on the run. However, while he’s a disciplined tackler, his involvement on special teams could also be hindered by his smaller stature. With added strength, he could evolve into a hybrid nickelback that is stationed near the line of scrimmage, where his instincts and disciplined approach can shine. That’s a role that could play a lion’s share of the defensive snaps. He has the skills to stay on the perimeter, but once again, he must get stronger.

Nov 28, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Trent McDuffie (22) reacts following a turnover on downs against the Utah Utes during the third quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs hadn't spent high draft picks or significant salary-cap space on cornerbacks under general manager Brett Veach, but they've seen quality results. However, even with the successes of 2019 sixth-round pick Rashad Fenton and 2020 fourth-round pick L'Jarius Sneed, the Chiefs entered the draft with a massive void at corner. Deandre Baker — who struggled to earn consistent playing time in 2021 — topped the depth chart along with Sneed and Fenton, following the losses of Charvarius Ward and Mike Hughes this offseason.

Ward was a multi-year starter for the Chiefs, and Hughes earned significant playing time in '21, his only year with the Chiefs. Ward played more than 67% of the Chiefs' defensive snaps in 2021, fourth-most on the team. Hughes played more than 45%. Now, with playing time to be had, the Chiefs have their new No. 1 cornerback.

Nov 28, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Trent McDuffie (22) celebrates following an interception against the Utah Utes during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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Joshua Brisco
JOSHUA BRISCO

Joshua Brisco is the editor and publisher of Kansas City Chiefs On SI and has covered the Chiefs professionally since 2017 across audio and written media.

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