Kansas City Chiefs coaches' mixed signals on Trent McDuffie's role are a hidden challenge to every cornerback on the roster
When the Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent CB Kristian Fulton, the predominant thought in Chiefs Kingdom was about veteran CB Trent McDuffie. Could McDuffie shift back into the slot with greater regularity after playing more outside cornerback during the 2024 NFL season? Even Chiefs HC Andy Reid recognized that the decision to sign Fulton gave the […]
When the Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent CB Kristian Fulton, the predominant thought in Chiefs Kingdom was about veteran CB Trent McDuffie.
Could McDuffie shift back into the slot with greater regularity after playing more outside cornerback during the 2024 NFL season? Even Chiefs HC Andy Reid recognized that the decision to sign Fulton gave the team more flexibility with McDuffie's role.
With practices underway at OTAs, the Chiefs haven't overwhelmingly moved McDuffie into the slot. As Steve Spagnuolo noted following practice on Wednesday, it's an occasional occurrence instead of a fixed role for McDuffie.
"You know, you saw today, every once in a while, Trent (McDuffie) slips inside there," Spags said.
The Chiefs clearly like what McDuffie is capable of when he plays in the slot, but right now they're waiting to see how all the puzzle pieces in the secondary fall into place. Historically, OTAs are very much about finding out what you have at positions like receiver and cornerback.
"Yeah, listen, I thought in the past, when we've had Trent (McDuffie) inside, he's done some really good things," Spags said. "He's effective in coverage and blitzing. The pieces of where anybody will be will be determined by how it all shapes up on the (outside) corner spots. But it's nice to have Chamarri (Conner) who can go in there, but Trent's pretty legit at that spot, and how productive he can be. And that year, two years ago, when LJ (L'Jarius Sneed) was here and we moved Trent inside a little bit more, I thought he made a lot of plays in there."
Chiefs DB coach Dave Merritt's hidden challenge to every cornerback not named Trent McDuffie
Ideally, McDuffie would play a more versatile role during the 2025 NFL season, but that might not be up to him alone. Chiefs DB coach Dave Merritt mentioned that McDuffie remains the team's No. 1 outside cornerback. It's unlikely that will change, but some other players on the roster taking a step forward could force the issue.
"Yeah, I mean, Trent (McDuffie) is still our number one at the outside position," Merritt explained. "I'm quite sure that Spags will put a little more emphasis on possibly trying to move Trent (McDuffie) around, if we can. But right now, Trent is our number one outside corner, and if we get to a point during the season where we can slide him in the inside, that'll be great."
One reason the Chiefs might not be comfortable and confident in committing to McDuffie in the slot in a full-time capacity right now is that they've yet to be fully healthy at the position. Kristian Fulton, one of their possible starting cornerback options, has been limited throughout OTAs. We've also yet to see what rookie CB Nohl Williams is fully capable of as he adjusts to the NFL game.
I'm told that during Wednesday's practice, McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Nazeeh Johnson were on the field together with the first-team defense at least a few times. McDuffie, of course, has been impressive during OTAs, recording interceptions in both practices open to media members. The one on Wednesday's practice came off a tip-drill play on a pass deflected by Johnson. The one last Thursday came on a shovel pass.
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