One of the lesser discussed storylines of the 2026 NFL Offseason is the fact that the Los Angeles Rams have two-first-round picks (#13 & #29) from their trade with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.

The Rams could draft a quarterback to succeed Matthew Stafford, could target a skill player like Makai Lemon, could draft a pair of young stars, or they could use those two picks as trade bait.

For a Rams team with aggressive leaders of general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay, it would be more shocking to see them not attempt to move these two draft picks for a star.

Looking at an easy fit in the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have an elite cornerback Trent McDuffie who’s entering the final season of his rookie contract, and will need an extension before he hits free agency. The problem here is the Chiefs are $57 million under the cap, ranked 32nd in the NFL.

More NFL Content from TWSN:

2026 Kansas City Chiefs Mock Draft

Rams Trade Stetson Bennett to Browns in a Wild Trade Scenario Explained

Los Angeles Rams Land Elite WR Prospect in CBS NFL Mock Draft

The Rams not only have two first rounders, but they also have four picks in the top-100 picks of the 2026 NFL draft: Nos. 13, 29, 61 and 93. Now let’s analyze what are the possibilities that can be made from these picks?

Keep both first rounders & take 2 elite talents at offensive line, cornerback, safety, or wide receiver.
Use one of the 1sts to select a QB to be Matthew Stafford’s successor.
Take a blue-chip player at #13, and trade #29 for a star-level talent.

One of the areas I’m personally leaning is the Rams staying put at Pick #13 but then moving #29, and look at what general manager Les Snead had to say when discussing their draft plans:

“What we did change a little bit is, once we knew right about where we were gonna be picking [in the first round], there was a group of us that really got in the lab and said, ‘Okay, let’s focus on the players that we subjectively think would be in play at what ended up being 13.’ … Let’s make sure we get 13 somewhat solved or at least to the 90 to 95th percent place in terms of prep, that way we can spend these next few months really doing what we normally do.”

This immediately shows that the prioirty is nailing down the value that will be available at Pick #13, because how rare is it that a Rams-type contender get’s a top-15 pick?

The Rams drafted Jared Verse with the 19th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but they haven’t been able to draft this high since taking Jared Goff first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. This brings us to the Kansas City Chiefs, and why they would even want to part ways with McDuffie.

Kansas City Chiefs Cornerback History

If history tells us anything about Chiefs roster management, it’s that they don’t hesitate to trade defensive backs when their contract situation becomes pressing.

In recent years, Kansas City has moved DBs with expiring contracts in order to recoup value rather than risk losing them for nothing in free agency. With Patrick Mahomes’ contract and offensive investments taking priority, the Chiefs often face hard choices in the secondary.

Players in similar contract positions have been moved at the deadline or in the offseason to capitalize on their market value while still in their early to mid‑20s. McDuffie, with one year remaining before free agency, fits this mold perfectly.

When L’Jarius Sneed delivered a career-best season and appeared headed for a contract extension, the Kansas City Chiefs stayed completely silent—until they franchise tagged him and ultimately traded him.

Now, Trent McDuffie, a two-time All-Pro, is due for an extension, and once again there has been no public movement from the organization. The pattern feels familiar. The signs seem obvious. The writing isn’t just on the wall, it’s been there all along.

Chiefs have Nohl Williams

The Chiefs drafted cornerback Nohl Williams in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he immediately showed elite promise during the 2025-26 season. While only seeing

While McDuffie started his career as a slot corner, he saw 479 of his 688 snaps aligned as a boundary corner (69.6%) in 2025-26. This bodes well for Kansas City because Nohl saw 88% of his snaps as a boundary corner, and that’s undoubtedly his most productive spot.

Early in the season, Steve Spagnuolo ramped up Williams by not having him play 40+ snaps more than once in the first 13 weeks, but in Weeks 14-18 he played 40+ snaps every week.

We’re talking about an absolute steal who lead the Chiefs in forced incompletions, and ranked 14th in the NFL in PFF’s pass coverage grade. While McDuffie has been a long-tenured star for the Chiefs, WIlliams is one player who immediately will pick up the slack if he is traded.

Kansas City Chiefs Receive: LA 2026 1st RD (Pick #28)

Los Angeles Rams Receive: CB Trent McDuffie

At the end of the day, the Chiefs serious cap problems can be solved throigh moves like getting rid of Jawaan Taylor, but they also need to avoid long-term extensions right now in favor of small rookie contracts, and that’s what getting a 1st rounder in exchange for a McDuffie extension does.

Related

Subscribe to the TWSN Newsletter for original reporting, bold opinions, and real analysis across NFL, NBA, UFC, College Football, and more.

Straight to your inbox. Always authentic.

Sign up now and never miss a moment.