Worrying situation surrounding one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ top performers

The Kansas City Chiefs will have to wait before securing the future of their star cornerback, Trent McDuffie. According to ESPN, no long-term contract extension will be agreed before the start of the season.

McDuffie, 24, is about to embark on his fourth NFL season, still under his rookie contract. Despite intense discussions over the past six weeks, the two parties have been unable to find common ground. The player, already a two-time Pro Bowl selection, will earn a base salary of $2.61 million this year.

Considered the Chiefs' second defensive linchpin behind Chris Jones, McDuffie is coming off an exceptional season. With two interceptions, 13 pass break-ups and 59 tackles, he established himself as one of the league's best defensive backs.

Next Gen Stats confirms his effectiveness: in 63.5% of his games, he limited his opponent to less than three yards, an impressive performance.

A comparison with Sauce Gardner's contract

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach confirmed last week that the organization considers McDuffie a priority. However, the cornerback market complicates negotiations. In July, the New York Jets awarded Sauce Gardner a record four-year contract worth $120.4 million, with over $85 million guaranteed. To match or surpass this deal, Kansas City would have to make McDuffie the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

For his part, the player is concentrating on his season. “The important thing is to play first and help the team win. Talks can resume after that,” he said.

Picked in the first round of the 2022 auction after the Tyreek Hill trade, McDuffie has become a fixture in the defensive system. If the Chiefs want to preserve their stability, extending his contract will sooner or later be inevitable.

This content was created with the help of AI.