Rams expected to make $120 million-plus Trent McDuffie contract decision after Chiefs trade

This offseason is going to be a fun one for the Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford is coming back, and there's no time like the present to go all-in for the 2026 season.

They've already made one such move, albeit it's not official yet. The Rams traded their 29th overall pick, a fifth and sixth rounder in 2026, and a 2027 third-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie, who's in the last year of his deal.

But, according to ESPN's Nate Taylor, the Rams are not going to keep McDuffie for one year. They're going to try to extend him. Taylor expects the Rams to extend McDuffie on a massive $120 million-plus contract this offseason once the trade is official.

Rams expected to extend Trent McDuffie on $120M+ deal

"Sources told Schefter that McDuffie, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, is expected to sign a long-term extension with the Rams that surpasses the record-setting contract cornerback Sauce Gardner signed in July (four years, $120.4 million) with the Jets, before he was traded to the Colts," Taylor writes.

This massive extension news from Taylor would mean McDuffie signs a deal for more than $120.4 million, if it's across at least four years.

Gardner's contract comes in at a massive $30.1 million per-year, the current record for a cornerback contract. The Rams are looking to extend McDuffie, and the sooner the better.

Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks is also poised for a mammoth extension, which is also likely to reset the market like McDuffie's would.

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If the Rams can agree to an extension with McDuffie, giving him more than $30.1 million per-year and more than $120.4 million overall, then they would avoid the scenario where they have to beat Witherspoon's new deal.

Signing McDuffie to such a big deal is a risk, but the All-Pro cornerback is one of the best in the game, and someone the Rams should be willing to splurge on.

Taylor is reporting that such talks are not only expected to occur, but that a deal beating that of Gardner is expected to take place this offseason.

As long as the Rams can make this extension work, they will have traded a first, third, fifth, and sixth-round picks for more than one year of McDuffie.

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• Jaylen Watson linked to Rams amid $54 million contract projection
• Les Snead keeping tabs on Maxx Crosby trade availability
• Nahshon Wright would be perfect free agent for Rams
• Chiefs and Rams predicted to compete in trade for Spencer Rattler
• Robert Woods joins Rams coaching staff shortly after retirement