For the second straight offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have landed a single player on the Pro Football Focus “25 under 25” list: cornerback Trent McDuffie.
McDuffie — already a two-time All-Pro — will be just 24 when the season starts. It is worth noting he turns 25 on September 13, one day before the team’s Week 2 Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles.
McDuffie climbed to the fifth rank after being listed at No. 10 in last year’s showcase.
5. CB TRENT MCDUFFIE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
McDuffie went from being a top-five nickel cornerback in PFF overall grade for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense in 2023 to a top-five outside cornerback in 2024. He is the NFL’s highest-graded cornerback since 2023 (89.7).
McDuffie has earned an 89.4 PFF coverage grade since entering the league in 2022, which is a top-five mark among all cornerbacks and makes him the only one in the top 10 to have spent more than 25% of their career snaps in the slot.
Takeaway
The Chiefs struck gold in landing McDuffie, who has managed to play at an elite level on his rookie contract. Only four players — Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (No. 1), Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (No. 2), Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (No. 3) and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (No. 4) — were listed ahead of McDuffie.
The Chiefs are expected to turn their attention to extensions for both McDuffie and defensive end George Karlaftis after ideally finalizing a long-term deal with franchise-tagged right guard Trey Smith. Kansas City exercised fifth-year options for both McDuffie and Karlaftis in late April.
Speaking of Karlaftis, he was snubbed for the second year in a row. The former Purdue pass rusher followed his 10.5-sack season in 2023 with 8.0 in 2024 — and PFF listed him with 76 quarterback pressures, fifth in the NFL among edge rushers in 2024.
Other under-25 Chiefs with less of a case than Karlaftis include 24-year-old linebacker Leo Chenal, 22-year-old wide receiver Xavier Worthy and 21-year-old safety Jaden Hicks. It would not be surprising to revisit this post a year from now and see both Worthy and Hicks as Kansas City’s 2026 representatives.
In total, the AFC West saw three players on the list: McDuffie (No. 5), Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (No. 14) and Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (No. 19).
