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Trent McDuffie shined with the Chiefs through his first four seasons in the NFL, though the team ultimately balked at the idea of giving him a big contract extension, leading them to trade him to the Rams.
McDuffie was dealt to Los Angeles this offseason in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick (No. 29), a fifth-round pick, a sixth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick. As part of that trade, the Rams were expected to work out a deal to sign McDuffie to a long-term contract extension, which the two sides have now agreed upon.
A new contract for McDuffie resets the market at the cornerback position, as his new deal will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
Trent McDuffie contract details
Per multiple reports, McDuffie’s four-year contract is worth a total of $124 million and will pay him $31 million annually.
How does McDuffie’s new deal stack up against the other high-earning cornerbacks in the league in terms of average annual value? Here’s a look at the league’s 15 highest-paid cornerbacks.
NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks after Trent McDuffie’s deal
| Player | Team | Contract AAV | Total Contract Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trent McDuffie | Los Angeles Rams | $31 million | $124 million |
| Sauce Gardner | Indianapolis Colts | $30.1 million | $120.4 million |
| Derek Stingley Jr. | Houston Texans | $30 million | $90 million |
| Jaycee Horn | Carolina Panthers | $25 million | $100 million |
| Jalen Ramsey | Pittsburgh Steelers | $24.1 million | $72.3 million |
| Patrick Surtain II | Denver Broncos | $24 million | $96 million |
| DaRon Bland | Dallas Cowboys | $22.5 million | $90 million |
| A.J. Terrell | Atlanta Falcons | $20.25 million | $81 milion |
| Denzel Ward | Cleveland Browns | $20.1 million | $100.5 million |
| Marlon Humphrey | Baltimore Ravens | $19.5 million | $97.5 million |
| Tyson Campbell | Cleveland Browns | $19.125 million | $76.5 million |
| L’Jarius Sneed | Tennessee Titans | $19.1 million | $76.4 million |
| Jaylon Johnson | Chicago Bears | $19 million | $76 million |
| Charvarius Ward | Indianapolis Colts | $18 million | $54 million |
| Byron Murphy | Minnesota Vikings | $18 million | $54 million |
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Prior to McDuffie’s new deal, fellow 2022 draft class defensive backs Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. were the highest paid cornerbacks in the league. Stingley reset the market last March with a three-year, $90 million extension with the Texans. Gardner signed a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension with the Jets a few months later, but was traded to the Colts less than a full season into the deal.
Stingley was the No. 3 pick in the ‘22 draft, while Gardner was picked fourth. Kansas City took McDuffie off the board at pick No. 21.
Who’s next to get paid?
The McDuffie deal wraps up the majority of the big contracts for players drafted in 2022, which means the next players in line for new deals will be stars from the draft class of 2023. Among the players selected that year who can potentially take the title of highest-paid cornerback from McDuffie include Seahawks star Devon Witherspoon and Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. The pair of young cornerbacks, who just faced off in Super Bowl LX, will both be in line for new contracts next offseason, and their deals will likely reset the market once again.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as NFL’s Highest-Paid Cornerbacks After Trent McDuffie Resets Market With New Rams Contract.
