WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 2: Trent McDuffie #22 of the Los Angeles Rams traces up in go protection throughout organized group actions exercise at Rams Village on the Warner Middle on June 2, 2026 in Woodland Hills, California. (Picture by Kevin Terrell/Getty Pictures) | Getty Pictures
The Los Angeles Rams traded a first-round decide for Trent McDuffie and instantly signed him to a record-setting $124 million contract, however is he one of the best cornerback within the NFL? Is he within the top-5 or the top-10? A minimum of one one who spoke to ESPN didn’t have McDuffie ranked within the top-10 and his total rating put him behind 4 different corners within the league.
In a survey of coaches, execs, and scouts, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler shared that McDuffie ranked because the fifth-best cornerback within the NFL behind Pat Surtain, Derek Stingley, Christian Gonzalez, and Devon Witherspoon.
Whereas one particular person ranked McDuffie third, no one had him first or second. A minimum of one particular person didn’t rank McDuffie in any respect, and he fell one spot from final 12 months’s rankings.
“One of the top coverage corners in the league,” an NFC scout mentioned. “He can cowl within the perimeter or the slot, can play man or zone, can strain the quarterback, can play Cowl 2 effectively and may jam and re-route. [He] has plus zone imaginative and prescient.
“Outstanding open-field tackler, and he’s always in position to make a play,” an NFL coordinator mentioned. “You’re going to have to beat him because he won’t beat himself.”
McDuffie goes from a group he gained a Tremendous Bowl with to a group that desires to win a Tremendous Bowl with him. He’s joined by former Chiefs teammate Jaylen Watson, who didn’t obtain any votes on this survey (24 corners bought no less than one placement within the top-10).
Not placing McDuffie within the top-10 could possibly be a bridge too far. However the Rams gave up as a lot as they did for McDuffie as a result of he’s who they wanted, not essentially as a result of he’s one of the best cornerback within the NFL.
He ought to no less than be within the top-10.
