One of the key pieces of the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense will be trying to get the team back to the Super Bowl without a new contract… for now, at least. Fourth-year CB Trent McDuffie told reporters Monday that he and his representation were unable to strike an extension ahead of the team’s opener Friday against the Chargers.

At a press conference before yesterday’s practice, Trent McDuffie said, “Moving forward now, really, it’s just about the season and about [Friday’s] game. I’m not too worried about the contract. That can just happen in the [next] offseason. Let’s just go out there and have a great year.” (as per ESPN). The 24-year-old’s words can position him as a team man. But the Chiefs’ second-best defender can escalate his value beyond the Chiefs’ salary cap room, resulting in the team losing its highest draft pick under GM Brett Veach.

McDuffie is a two-time All-Pro, and another selection this season will see him eclipse Sauce Gardner. The Jets CB earned two All-Pro nods before missing out last season. That did not stop the AFC East franchise from signing him to a guaranteed $120.4 million extension. The Chiefs may not feel pressured to act quickly as they exercised their fifth-year option in April, making McDuffie’s 2026 salary of $13.6 million fully guaranteed. Post that, the team can franchise tag him for 2027, which would likely double that salary.

A deal this season may not have been possible as only $2.6 million of his $4.4 million cap hit in 2025 comes from salary, leaving GM Brett Veach with limited flexibility to create relief. McDuffie, though, remains confident in his ability to secure a deal. And why not? He is coming off a strong year.

The cornerback recorded the first interception of his career in Week 15 against the Browns in their 21-7 win. A game later, his interception of a CJ Stroud 50 seconds before halftime was a key momentum shift in the Chiefs’ win.

Another good season could see the cornerback command an extension that rivals Gardner’s $120.4 million guaranteed and the Cowboys’ DaRon Bland’s $92 million guaranteed. The question now is, what do the Kansas City Chiefs have in store for McDuffie?

Is a McDuffie contract extension a priority for Veach and the Kansas City Chiefs?

The chatter about Trent McDuffie’s deal has been going on for quite some time. Brett Veach admitted that the deal isn’t quite done yet, but the two sides are quite close. That’s largely because of the strong relationship the GM has built with the CB and his agent. “We did have a chance to catch up before and during training camp, and I think things have been good. It’s not one of these where it’s like, ‘Whoa. Wait, huge difference.’”

“He’s a guy that’s obviously a special player. We’re going to continue that dialogue, and hopefully something gets worked out. I think things have been good. Trent is obviously going to be a priority.”

Getting this deal done will be essential, as the Chiefs invested in long-term potential in 2022. They used the pick received from the Tyreek Hill trade and parted ways with a first, third, and fourth round selection in 2022 to use New England’s 21st pick on Trent McDuffie.

The Kansas City Chiefs are walking a tightrope in not getting a deal done before the season opener. Micah Parsons showed the NFL that the old way of doing business no longer applies. McDuffie is not withholding his services like Parsons did. However, if the CB outdoes his 2024 numbers (two interceptions, 13 pass breakups, 59 tackles, 1 forced fumble) and sets new career highs in tackles, the conversations could be different.