Free Agency in the NFL: Before the Deadline
The NFL free agency starting point is fast approaching with March 9th being the date where NFL teams can begin official discussions of trades and deals. However, teams are beginning to finalize their unofficial deals; All-Pros are shifting left and right, key assets are slotting into the perfect situations, and teams are hungry to fill their rosters with championship winning talent, whether at a high or low price. In the last few days, players like All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and four-time 1,000 yard receiver DJ Moore have found new homes, but at what price were some teams willing to pay for them?
Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles Rams
Kansas City Chiefs: B-
Los Angeles Rams: B
The Rams and the Chiefs agreed to a deal to send cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for multiple draft picks, including the Rams’ 29th overall pick, fifth-round, and sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The First-Team All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie has led an impressive career in his four year tenure, leading NFL cornerbacks in forced fumbles in the last three seasons with a stellar pass coverage rating. His performance on the field combined with his young career has asserted him as a dominant defender for the Chiefs.
For the Rams, cornerback was their weakest position on their stone-wall defense in the 2025 NFL season with their number one cornerback option Emmanuel Forbes Jr. having inconsistent play throughout the season. The Rams also lacked depth in the position with next cornerback options Cobie Durant and Josh Wallace missing their marks on multiple occasions.
The Chiefs finished the 2025 NFL Season with a 6-11 record, a far cry from their consistent playoff success in previous seasons. While star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was injured mid-way through the previous season, it became apparent the once dominant Chiefs offense hit a brick wall; All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce did not climb to his expectation, budding wide receiver Rashee Rice was on the injury reserve, and the offense as a whole finished 20th in YPG.
While trading away a defender as lockdown and young as Trent McDuffie seems preposterous, the Chiefs are in a position where draft picks can open up massive doors for their offense next season. The Chiefs will have their ninth overall pick with the Rams’ 29th overall pick, allowing them to continue their construction of a young and fast-paced offense around breakout wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Also, picks in the later rounds further pushes the Chiefs offense to a stronger point while giving the Chiefs the ability to search for a new young cornerback to keep their defense secure.
For the Rams, the trade is obvious: cornerback was the biggest defensive issue last season, so the Rams went and fixed it quickly. Under Chris Shula’s defensive coordination, which forced the fifth most turnovers and had the fifth best pressure rate in the 2025 NFL Season, Trent McDuffie will fill in one of the last missing puzzle pieces for a deep Rams playoff run in the 2026 NFL Season.
DJ Moore to Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears: A-
Buffalo Bills: B+
The Bills and the Bears have agreed to a deal to send wide receiver DJ Moore and Chicago’s fifth round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for Buffalo’s second round pick (pick 60) in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Chicago’s star wide receiver one DJ Moore will find his third team during the span of his eight-year career, previously spending five years with the Carolina Panthers where he put up three 1,000 receiving yard seasons in a row with twelve touchdown catches during that time. He was traded to the Chicago Bears going into the 2023 NFL Season, having a career high 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.
With the conclusion of Buffalo’s season in the AFC divisional round against the Denver Broncos, it became more apparent than ever that MVP quarterback Josh Allen needed some talent to throw to with Keon Coleman having a disappointing sophomore season and free agency pickup Joshua Palmer missing multiple games.
Chicago had an explosive regular season in the previous year, finishing with an 11-6 record and winning the NFC North. While their season was ended in the NFC Divisional Round by the Los Angeles Rams, the unexpected success in the franchise has shown that Chicago can build themselves to be a powerhouse in the following seasons. Promising young talent on offense in Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III and a surprisingly tough defense puts Chicago in a great position going into the 2026 NFL Season.
Chicago’s decision to trade away a key wide receiver for additional early round talent is brilliant in their current position; Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III have proven themselves to be weapons in the passing game and adding young talent to the budding Bears roster will certainly boost Chicago’s chances for a playoff run next season.
This trade may be the golden key Buffalo needs to unlock a Super Bowl run; the window for Buffalo’s success with Josh Allen is slowly closing and the Bills have not yet found their Super Bowl success. The addition of veteran DJ Moore to have an immediate effect in the Buffalo passing game while serving as guidance for receiver Keon Coleman will boost the already potent Bills offense to the right level in the upcoming season.
