INDIANAPOLIS — The NFC West arms race just hit a massive new gear. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Rams shipped a massive draft package—highlighted by the No. 29 overall pick—to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. The Chiefs dump an impending massive contract, but the real ripple effect hits the 2026 NFL Draft board. Kansas City suddenly needs a premier defensive back, and former Tennessee standout Jermod McCoy is sitting right in their crosshairs.
Before the trade, draft experts widely linked McCoy to the Rams. Los Angeles still holds the No. 13 overall pick, but McCoy’s draft stock took a hit after he skipped on-field workouts at last week’s NFL Combine. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound corner is a top-tier talent, but he missed the entire 2025 season recovering from an ACL tear suffered in January 2025. Now, the Chiefs hold the cards at the back end of the first round. With McDuffie gone and Jaylen Watson entering free agency, Kansas City’s secondary is bleeding talent. They need a plug-and-play coverage man, and McCoy’s clean technique fits Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive scheme perfectly. You could almost feel the tension inside the Combine corridors last week; scouts furiously updated their big boards the moment the trade rumors leaked.
“With Trent McDuffie now traded to the Rams and Jaylen Watson entering free agency, the Chiefs have a glaring hole at corner. If we’re going strictly by talent, McCoy is a top-10 prospect in this class. But he hasn’t played a game since 2024, missing all of last season after suffering an ACL tear in January 2025. We’re still not sure where he’s at in his recovery… But McCoy is an easy mover who has squeaky-clean technique.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst
McCoy’s future hinges entirely on his upcoming Tennessee Pro Day at the end of the month. It marks his first public football activity since the 2024 season. If he runs well and proves his knee is fully stable, he blasts right back into the top 15, potentially out of Kansas City’s reach. A sluggish performance leaves him sliding right into the Chiefs’ lap at No. 29. The Dallas Cowboys have also sniffed around McCoy, holding two first-round picks themselves, but Jerry Jones needs immediate contributors, making a medical gamble unlikely. Keep an eye on the Seattle Seahawks at No. 32 and the Buffalo Bills at No. 60 as they monitor other Tennessee products like Colton Hood and Chris Brazzell. The draft in Pittsburgh is less than two months away, and the cornerback carousel is spinning at warp speed.
