The University of Washington’s reputation as a “DBU” (Defensive Back University) just got a major boost, as former Huskies cornerback Trent McDuffie signed a record-setting four-year, $124 million extension with the Los Angeles Rams, just four days after being traded from the Kansas City Chiefs.
The deal, which runs from 2027 through 2030, includes $100 million guaranteed and an average yearly value of $31 million, making McDuffie the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and the richest player ever to come out of Washington.
McDuffie, a two-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, had his fifth-year option exercised by the Chiefs in 2026, but Kansas City ultimately traded him to the Rams, saving $13.6 million in cap space before Los Angeles immediately signed him to the massive extension.
McDuffie’s $124 million contract surpasses the previous top cornerback deals held by Ahmad Gardner ($120.4M) and Derek Stingley Jr. ($89M guaranteed), making him the nation’s 29th-highest-paid player overall and the highest-paid off-ball defender, as all players earning more play on the line.
The contract also cements McDuffie as the highest-paid former Washington Husky in NFL history, exceeding the previous record set by former defensive tackle Vita Vea ($71M over four years) by more than $50 million.
His $31 million average yearly salary nearly doubles the UW record, previously held by Budda Baker and Byron Murphy Jr., and places him far ahead of Vea’s $17.75 million APY, making McDuffie’s new deal a historic milestone for both the program and NFL cornerbacks. ⚡🏈
