The Kansas City Chiefs had one of their worst recent NFL seasons, and their early playoff exit may have benefited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ future, especially with cornerback Trent McDuffie possibly leaving Kansas City next season.
Chiefs May Trade Trent McDuffie to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The early elimination is likely to result in significant changes to the Chiefs’ roster in the offseason. Trading McDuffie would allow the Chiefs to free up salary cap space and potentially acquire valuable draft picks, while the Buccaneers could strengthen their secondary and increase their chances for future playoff runs.
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the current trend suggests that McDuffie may be traded, similar to how L’Jarius Sneed was in 2024. If traded, the Chiefs would receive assets to aid in their rebuilding efforts. Tampa Bay would gain an experienced cornerback to reinforce its defense.
“Another name on my radar is Chiefs corner Trent McDuffie. The last Kansas City corner eyeing a big extension, L’Jarius Sneed, was shipped to Tennessee for a draft pick. McDuffie would have value, and Tampa Bay would be a perfect spot for him”, said Fowler.
However, unlike when the Chiefs traded Sneed and lost Charvarius Ward in free agency, the current roster has no natural replacements. Chiefs cornerbacks often leave to avoid high payouts, but with only Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson as replacements, McDuffie’s departure is not certain.
A key factor is the 2026 salary cap, with projections showing a $44 million overage. The situation appears more favorable for 2027, with $73 million projected to be available; however, this projection may change with offseason moves.
Analyzing the current scenario, the best decision for the Chiefs would be to retain McDuffie on the roster for the final year of his contract, allowing them to better assess their financial situation in 2027. Considering that the franchise can still find a high-level replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft, this approach would be prudent.
Buccaneers Still Fighting for a Spot in the 2025 Playoffs
Unlike Kansas City, Tampa Bay’s current regular season remains active in the quest for a sixth consecutive playoff appearance. The Buccaneers lead the NFL South for now, but they enter Week 16 needing to beat the Carolina Panthers in a decisive matchup for a playoff spot.
Even though the Buccaneers are fighting to reach the postseason, there is agreement among fans that performance has regressed noticeably in recent games, with the same number of losses in 2025 already equaling the entire 2024 season.
Taking advantage of McDuffie’s expected desire for a new contract, the Buccaneers, who rank No. 21 in the PFSN Defense Impact metric with a C- grade, could offer assets to the Chiefs. If a trade happens, the Chiefs benefit by acquiring compensation, and the Buccaneers add a proven talent to push for playoff success.