The Kansas City Chiefs are grinding their way through training camp, and it has revealed a potential new wrinkle for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.

Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie Eager for Potential Role Change

Trent McDuffie Working in Slot More During Chiefs Training Camp

McDuffie has logged more reps in the slot in training camp than he did last year. It is actually a return to form for the two-time Super Bowl champion and former No. 21 overall pick of the 2022 draft, though.

Regardless, McDuffie is eager to put pressure on opposing QBs.

“My favorite story is when I say, ‘Every time I get a blitz, I start smiling,’” McDuffie told Chiefs reporter Matt McMullen in comments shared on July 29. “I feel like I really just gotta focus in on what it means to be a blitzer, really, in this defense. Yeah, it gets to the quarterback. But like I always tell everybody, I know what it’s like to be on an island. I know what it’s like when it’s Cover 0, and everybody blitzing, and the quarterback knows it.

“It’s really getting back to the quarterback, right, to help my buddies out on the back end. So, this year I’m looking forward to it.”

McDuffie could be in for a big season in terms of making splash plays for the Chiefs.

Per Pro Football Focus, McDuffie spent 152 of his 1,206 defensive snaps in the slot at nickelback during the 2024 regular season.

That is down from McDuffie’s 608 NB snaps in 2023. They are also fewer than his 247 snaps there as a rookie in 2022. McDuffie earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2023 and was a Second Teamer this past season.

If he continues to embrace the defense’s new mantra, McDuffie is in for another big season.

“It’s ‘Be bold and be courageous,’ which I think is really just an attitude thing,” McDuffie said. “When you want to play in Coach Spags’ [Steve Spagnuolo] defense, you gotta be confident, you gotta be bold, and you can’t be scared of making a mistake. So, we just gotta go out there and fly around.”

McDuffie recorded the first two interceptions of his career last season, and he forced 5 fumbles in 2023.

2025 could be the season McDuffie puts it all together for an especially productive campaign.

Chiefs Newcomer Misses Practice

McDuffie playing more in the slot means others must hold the fort down on the perimeter. The Chiefs have 2024 holdovers Chamarri Conner and Nazeeh Johnson to make the transition operate as desired.

However, they also added former Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton in free agency.

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Fulton was part of a notable list of non-participants on Tuesday.

“Kristian Fulton (knee), Darius Rush (hamstring), Eric Scott (hamstring), Deon Bush (hamstring), Jeffrey Bassa (ankle) and Jake Briningstool (hamstring) didn’t practice for the Chiefs today,” McMullen posted on X on July 29.

“Hollywood Brown (ankle), Xavier Worthy (banged his head), Cooper McDonald (sick) and Skyy Moore (hamstring) left early.”

Brown’s outlook is optimistic in the aftermath.

Still, Fulton could be the biggest key to the Chiefs trusting their coverage on the outside enough to move McDuffie inside in nickel formations.

At the very least, they are thinner at a premium position so long as he is sidelined. Of course, that also applies to Brown, Moore, and Worthy.