1) Jesse Minter: The Baltimore Ravens’ new head coach is supposed to return that team to the postseason and improve a defense that disappointed far too often over the last two seasons. He received a huge boost in his pursuit of both those goals when general manager Eric DeCosta executed the blockbuster trade agreement for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. This is the kind of deal the Ravens have shied away from making, historically. They typically rely on drafting well and developing talent rather than giving away a couple first-round picks (one in 2026, one in ’27) in exchange for a player as accomplished as Crosby, who’s been named second-team All-Pro twice and earned five Pro Bowl nods. This ultimately speaks to how much the Ravens need Minter to succeed quickly as the replacement for John Harbaugh, whom owner Steve Bisciotti fired in January.
Minter and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver now can wield the one weapon the Ravens’ defense has lacked since Terrell Suggs left town following the 2018 season: a dominant pass-rushing presence that can make life difficult for any offensive tackle in the league. The Ravens have failed to draft a true difference-maker at that position over the past seven years. They’ve had some success with veteran free agents — like Kyle Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney — but Crosby is a true game-changer. The Ravens had the league’s best defense back in 2023, when it was being run by future Super Bowl-winning Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. This bunch that Minter will put on the field already looks a lot better when you factor in other stars like linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton.
2) Trent McDuffie: The two-time All-Pro cornerback is a perfect example of a young, talented player who was in the right place at the right time. The Los Angeles Rams were desperate for cornerback help after their defensive backfield struggled in the second half of last season, especially in an NFC Championship Game loss to Seattle. The Chiefs were strapped with the kind of salary-cap limitations that made it hard to see how they could give McDuffie the massive contract extension he coveted as he prepared to play 2026 on the final, fifth-year option season of his rookie deal. The agreed-upon trade that will send McDuffie from Kansas City should make everybody happy — especially McDuffie.
The Rams are giving up plenty to acquire him (four total picks, including the 29th overall selection this year) and will be showering him with riches (he’s agreed to terms on a four-year extension worth $124 million). It was a legitimate question as to whether McDuffie deserved to be paid in the same $30 million-per-year neighborhood as other cornerbacks chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft (Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr.), because he’s been more impactful in the slot than as an outside corner. The Rams apparently weren’t put off by that at all. McDuffie’s prowess in that area of the field means he can shadow Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who won Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 and dominates out of the slot. McDuffie also attended high school not far from SoFi stadium and played for Rams secondary coach Jimmy Lake while in college at Washington. McDuffie obviously loved his time helping the Chiefs build a dynasty. He’ll be even happier in Los Angeles, especially if he helps the Rams win another Super Bowl there.
3) Brett Veach: The Chiefs GM proved that he’s going to continue being as aggressive as ever when it comes to improving this team. The Chiefs were better off agreeing to that McDuffie trade because: 1) It wouldn’t make sense to pay McDuffie at that level, given their salary-cap constraints, and 2) This team needs an infusion of young talent if it wants to resume contending for championships. Veach came into the offseason holding just six picks in this year’s draft. He’ll now have nine to work with, including the ninth and 29th overall, and the $13.6 million in cap room he’ll save with the McDuffie deal will come in real handy, given how the first day of the free agency negotiating window went. On Monday, Veach grabbed the best running back on the market, Kenneth Walker III, who is signing a three-year deal worth up to $45 million.
Veach also received more encouraging news when tight end Travis Kelce informed the team that he would be returning for a 14th season after considering retirement. It’s now easier to imagine Veach filling more major holes as the Chiefs move deeper into the offseason. This team still needs help at edge rusher, wide receiver, interior defensive line, safety and, of course, cornerback. As much as some optimists might cling to the notion that they can contend as soon as quarterback Patrick Mahomes returns from a torn ACL, the reality is, the QB covered up a lot of flaws that emerged when Kansas City finished 6-11 last season. We don’t know how that injury will impact Mahomes, how much standout defensive tackle Chris Jones (31 years old) has left or what the 36-year-old Kelce can still offer. What is clear is that the Chiefs need to make plenty of savvy moves to improve this roster. Veach is in a better position to do that now.