2022 NFL Draft: KC Chiefs trade up to select cornerback Trent McDuffie

The first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft is in for the Kansas City Chiefs with the selection of cornerback Trent McDuffie.

After weeks of holding 12 picks in the lead up to the 2022 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs have officially made their first selection by trading up with the New England Patriots at No. 21 overall. Their prize was to be able to select cornerback Trent McDuffie from Washington.

McDuffie was consistently graded as one of the top corners in the draft, perhaps the next best after the very top tier of guys who ended up being taken in the top four of the draft. The Chiefs’ move up for McDuffie shows how highly they thought of him.

McDuffie had 35 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss last year, for Washington as a corner who isn’t afraid to play the run as well. In his three-year career with the Huskies, McDuffie had 2 interceptions, 8 passes deflected, and 3 forced fumbles.

WIth McDuffie as a likely starter from Week 1 on the outside, the Chiefs have found a replacement for Charvarius Ward, who they lost in free agency to the San Francisco 49ers. The Chiefs also watched Mike Hughes leave in free agency, so the addition of McDuffie bolsters a questionable secondary that was leaning on Rashad Fenton and L’Jarius Sneed as fellow starters. The Chiefs also have Deandre Baker returning for another year.

The Chiefs traded No. 29 overall in the first round, their first of two picks in the round, along with No. 94 and No. 121 overall in order to move up nine spots. The Chiefs had two picks in each of the next three rounds, so they are still able to keep their next first-round choice and their two second-round choices while coming away with the prospect they love.