Overreaction #2: Trent McDuffie is still not the Chiefs' CB1.
I wanted to believe this so badly. I saw that the Chiefs held one of the league's top receivers Justin Jefferson to three catches for 28 yards and was so excited for the Chiefs' defense. Well specifically for Trent McDuffie. I thought this was his coming out party, introducing himself as a premiere cornerback in the league and the Chiefs top option.
Trent McDuffie is a top 5 corner in the NFL.
— Kyle Henning (@kthen16) October 8, 2023
But alas, that was not the case on Sunday.
The Chiefs and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo did not have McDuffie shadow Jefferson all game. McDuffie was the closest defender on five different targeted Vikings. Jefferson's only target with McDuffie covering him was incomplete, primarily due to an incredible pass breakup by Mike Edwards. In all, he allowed five receptions for 56 yards and 22 yards after the catch. It is not a great box line, but not terrible. It was still the most yardage he allowed in coverage since last season's AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
McDuffie impacted the game, but not in ways a team's top cornerback traditionally does. He was stout in run support, making two big tackles down the field. With no missed tackles and a "stop", PFF graded McDuffie as the Chiefs' top run defender. He also received a 91.5 pass-rushing grade, with three quarterback hits in four pass-rush snaps. That is a crazy ratio and just shows how McDuffie is a chess piece in Spagnuolo's scheme.
This overreaction is not saying McDuffie had a bad game. By many accounts, he had a very solid game against a very good offense. But, running mate L'Jarius Sneed had a better day in pass coverage. Sneed had two pass breakups, plus limited Jefferson to two catches and 14 yards on three targets. PFF gave Sneed the Chiefs' best pass-coverage grade on Sunday, thanks to a lack of penalties and those forced incompletions.
McDuffie still has the talent to take over as Kansas City's top corner. You can argue that Kirk Cousins did not target Jefferson with McDuffie in coverage because he did not like the matchup. You can spin it that way. But, between the eye test and the numbers, this was no McDuffie's ascension that many expected.