The Kansas City Chiefs have invested heavily in the secondary in the draft in recent years. That started with finding a gem in L’Jarius Sneed in the 2020 NFL draft and culminated in last season’s selection of the “Fab Five” consisting of Trent McDuffie, Bryan Cook, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson.
The investment already paid dividends a season ago, with several of those players contributing throughout the course of a 17-game season and extended postseason. Two of those players are being recognized by PFF in the top 32 cornerback rankings heading into 2023.
Trent McDuffie landed at No. 24 on the list. Here’s what PFF’s Sam Monson had to say about his placement:
The Sauce Gardner grading curve ruined all other rookies by contract, but fellow first-round rookie Trent McDuffie was excellent for the Chiefs after he got back in the starting lineup. McDuffie was immediately thrown into difficult assignments in the Chiefs’ defense and allowed just 10.1 yards per reception all year.
McDuffie probably could have challenged Gardner for his placement if he didn’t miss the first half of the season with an injury suffered in Week 1. Not far behind McDuffie was L’Jarius Sneed, who has really transformed into a do-everything weapon for Steve Spagnuolo over the year.
Sneed has been the Chiefs’ best cornerback since he was drafted in the fourth round in 2020, though he may need to make way now for Trent McDuffie. Sneed has played outside and in the slot for Kansas City and notched more than 40 defensive stops in each of the past two seasons, including the playoffs.
McDuffie and Sneed are sure to be defensive cornerstones heading into 2023. The Chiefs’ success in the secondary could even see another jump this season with rookies Chamarri Conner and Nic Jones added to the mix.
