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Trent McDuffie says he helped recruit Jaylen Watson to Rams
TL;DR
Trent McDuffie helped recruit Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams after joining the team from the Kansas City Chiefs. Both cornerbacks, who played together in Kansas City, aim to strengthen the Rams' defense.
Key points
- Trent McDuffie was traded to the Rams on March 4.
- Jaylen Watson signed with the Rams on March 9.
- Both players were part of the same 2022 draft class.
- McDuffie actively recruited Watson to join him in L.A.
- The Rams wanted to strengthen their cornerback position.
Los Angeles RamsKansas City ChiefsTrent McDuffieJaylen Watson
It's not a coincidence that both of the starting cornerbacks for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025 joined the Los Angeles Rams this offseason. After the Rams traded for Trent McDuffie on March 4, the ex-Chief started to recruit Jaylen Watson to join him in L.A. before he signed a new deal on March 9.
"I was calling him … like, 'Bro, you never know,'" McDuffie said, per ESPN. "'We might get you. We might get you. Keep an open mind.'"
The pairing makes sense. McDuffie and Watson were part of the same 2022 draft class — McDuffie was a first-round pick while Watson was in the seventh — and played all four years together in Kansas City. So, for a Rams that wanted to revitalize it's cornerback room, bringing two players who know each other well is an easy way to pull it off in one offseason.
Per ESPN's Sarah Barshop, though, general manager Les Snead didn't plan on bringing both players to L.A. While scouting Watson, who was an impending free agent, Snead said he kept noticing McDuffie and had heard "whispers" that the Chiefs could be interested in trading the cornerback away.
The Rams' intention was not initially for the pair to be a package deal. Snead said after the Rams traded for McDuffie, they were still monitoring the players that would be available in unrestricted free agency and "didn't necessarily plan for [Watson] to be available."
Q&A
How did Trent McDuffie recruit Jaylen Watson to the Rams?
Trent McDuffie actively called Jaylen Watson, encouraging him to keep an open mind about joining the Rams after McDuffie's trade.
What was the timeline of McDuffie's and Watson's moves to the Rams?
Trent McDuffie was traded to the Rams on March 4, and Jaylen Watson signed with the team shortly after on March 9.
Why did the Rams want to bring in both McDuffie and Watson?
The Rams aimed to revitalize their cornerback room by acquiring two players who have a strong rapport from playing together in Kansas City.
