Chiefs bolster secondary with former 1st-rounder after blockbuster Trent McDuffie trade
The Kansas City Chiefs are parting ways with a major piece of their defense after shipping Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in a trade this March . McDuffie played a big role during the team’s recent playoff pushes, but the front office decided it was time to move in a different direction. McDuffie was heading into the last season of his rookie contract after putting together four productive years in Kansas City.
He recorded 178 solo tackles, 68 assists, 5. 5 sacks, and three interceptions during that span. MORE: How Raiders’ Kirk Cousins singing benefits Fernando Mendoza Following a rough 6-11 NFL season in 2025, general manager Brett Veach opted for draft capital and salary cap flexibility rather than committing significant money to keep the All-Pro cornerback around long-term.
Chiefs add former first rounder Kaiir Elam With the 2026 roster taking shape, Kansas City’s secondary looks noticeably different. McDuffie is gone, along with Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook. Andy Reid and Veach have been busy trying to add bodies to the back end, and they just landed a former first-round pick to bolster the cornerback room.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Chiefs have agreed to sign cornerback Kaiir Elam. Elam has not found much stability since entering the league. Buffalo selected him with the No.
23 overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Florida, but his NFL journey has been anything but steady. He bounced between three teams last season alone. The Bills traded him to Dallas in March after three years, ending his run in Buffalo.