The New York Giants were reportedly a serious bidder for cornerback Trent McDuffie before the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to trade the 25-year-old cornerback to the Los Angeles Rams for four draft picks on Wednesday.
Kansas City Star columnist Sam Sam McDowell reported that the trade “came down to the Rams and the Giants” but that the Rams’ willingness to offer a first-round pick plus other draft considerations was more than the Giants were willing to offer.
The Rams, with general manager Les Snead known
for being willing to surrender draft picks, are giving up a 2026 first-round draft pick (No. 29 overall), a fifth- and sixth-rounder this year and a 2027 third-round draft pick in exchange for McDuffie, a 2022 first-round pick entering his fifth NFL season.
McDuffie is expected to receive a new contract from the Rams.
What does this mean for the Giants?
This effort to trade for McDuffie, a two-time All-Pro, is perhaps the first real curveball in what should be a busy offseason of change for the Giants under new coach John Harbaugh.
Starting cornerback Cor’Dale Flott is heading to free agency. While Harbaugh said the Giants want Flott back, the price tag might be prohibitive. This was perhaps a sign that if the Giants are going to pay big money at cornerback, they were aiming to do so for a player with a better resumé.
Harbaugh has said he wants the Giants to be a playoff contender in 2026. This could also be looked at as an indication that those words were more than just lip service. It may also show that we should be on the lookout for other surprises in the coming weeks.
