The five toughest matchups awaiting Trent McDuffie
The Kansas City Chiefs schedule is loaded with dynamic wide receivers on opposing teams, which means Trent McDuffie is going to have his hands full.
The Kansas City Chiefs and general manager Brett Veach took Chiefs Kingdom by surprise during the NFL Draft by doing something many thought might never happen: investing heavily at cornerback.
The Chiefs traded up to select Trent McDuffie from Washington in the first round with the 21st overall pick, investing an early pick at a position of need. It was an unprecedented decision for Veach. McDuffie was just the fourth corner the GM has drafted during his time in K.C.—after L’Jarius Sneed (fourth round, 2020), Rashad Fenton (sixth round, 2019), and Thakarius Keyes (seventh round, 2020)—and is by far the highest pick.
There is no doubt that the Chiefs have high hopes for what McDuffie can bring to their defense. He is likely to be a starter, but what sort of wide receiver matchups will he potentially face in his rookie season?
The answer, in short, is some very tough ones. Let’s check them out, starting with some honorable mentions.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
The five players ahead are just some, but by no means all, of the tough receivers Kansas City’s defense will come up against this season.
McDuffie will potentially line up against Seattle’s D.K Metcalf and Tyler Lockett (Week 16), Chris Godwin and Mike Evans from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 4), and the L.A. Chargers’ Mike Williams and Keenan Allen (Week 2 & 11).
Five of those six wide receivers had over 1,000 yards receiving last season, with Metcalf the only one to fall short of the mark with 967 yards. Even so, Metcalf was still more than productive last season, catching 12 touchdowns. Evans had double-digit touchdown catches too, bringing in 14 TDs, the second-most in the league.
McDuffie could get an early taste of facing a top wide receiver, outside of training camp and playing against K.C.’s own WRs when the Chiefs face Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders in Week 2 of the preseason.
Now onto the most dangerous matchups, starting with a division rival.