Reviewing the historical success of high-profile corner additions

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 27: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) leaps over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) after a catch during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs on November 27, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

One of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason was the Los Angeles Rams trading with the Kansas City Chiefs for Trent McDuffie. LA sent a late first round pick and some change to KC and then immediately signed the corner to a massive contract extension.

But the Rams weren't done.

They then signed his Chiefs teammate, Jaylen Watson, in free agency to bring a multi-year continuity to the Los Angeles corner room. The Rams hope this chemistry will carry over and propel their defense to a Super Bowl level of performance after falling just short in 2025.

What does history tell us about the odds of whether these moves will prove successful? Let's visit other high profile corner additions (trade or free agency) throughout recent NFL history and compare them to the Rams' offseason decision making:

Yeah, that went pretty well

Jalen Ramsey: Jaguars -> Rams, 2019

LA reached the Super Bowl in 2018 and fell short. They added Ramsey in what ended up being a down year in 2019; however, he was a leader on a defense that helped them return to the championship in 2021 and finally win it all. The Rams can only hope they can recapture this magic with the McDuffie trade and that this move also puts them over the hump.

Champ Bailey: Redskins -> Broncos, 2004

Bailey was actually traded with a second round pick to the Broncos in exchange for RB Clinton Portis. The stakes don't rise to a similar level of the McDuffie trade, but this was still one of the most effective corner acquisitions in NFL history. Bailey helped anchor elite defenses in Denver for years.

Stephon Gilmore: Bills -> Patriots, 2017

Gilmore left in free agency and signed with a division rival. He played at a Defensive Player of the Year candidate level and then in typical Patriots fashion they moved on arguably a year too early rather than be too late.

What were they thinking?

JC Jackson: Patriots -> Chargers, 2022

After signing a deal worth almost $83M, Jackson played in just seven games for the Chargers. Even when he was healthy and on the field, his play was disastrous. This contract helped wreck the Brandon Staley era for the other Los Angeles team.

Nnamdi Asomugha: Raiders -> Eagles, 2011

Remember the Eagles' dream team" offseason? This was a classic example of how NFL team building is more complicated than simply collecting talent, and Asomugha was not a schematic fit for what Philly was trying to do on defense. There is some risk of this in the McDuffie trade, although the Rams could pivot from a zone-heavy defense to deploying man coverage more often.

Brandon Carr: Chiefs -> Cowboys, 2012

Carr's performance in Dallas led to what is considered one of the worse cornerback free agent contracts in history. He could have been a solid second option for some teams, but was never the shut-down player the Cowboys paid him to be.

Somewhere in between

Marcus Peters: Chiefs-> Rams -> Ravens

Aqib Talib: Broncos -> Rams -> Dolphins

Peters and Talib helped the Rams reach the Super Bowl in 2018. Both had troubling moments in coverage as well as shining at times. Neither had the individual impact of Ramsey. Mixed bag.

Sauce Gardner: Jets -> Colts

The Colts sent the Jets two first-round picks and receiver AD Mitchell in addition to paying Gardner $120M. The jury is still out whether this move will prove successful for Indianapolis, although it's complicated by a calf injury that caused the corner to miss notable time in his first year with the team. This was a high risk bet by the Colts amidst contract extensions with quarterback Daniel Jones.

In conclusion

There are as many negative examples as positive when you look across the NFL's history of high-profile cornerback additions. Some impacts were a mixed bag, which is not what you are hoping for in a blockbuster trade or large free agent signing.

History tells us that it's not a slam dunk for Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to be successful with the Rams. Los Angeles itself has a nuanced track record of such moves, although they deserve credit for fixing one of the weakest positions on their roster and turning it into a strength on paper.