Chiefs land single rookie on Pro Football Focus ’25 under 25′ list

Cornerback Trent McDuffie was snubbed last year, but this year, the football analytics website made it right.

For the third consecutive season, the Kansas City Chiefs have one player on the Pro Football Focus “25 under 25” list.

Center Creed Humphrey was named to the 2022 and 2023 preseason lists, however he is no longer eligible because he turns 25 in mid-June. Trent McDuffie, Kansas City’s representative this year, will be only 23 when the season starts.

McDuffie placed tenth on a list created by Zoltán Buday.

10. CB TRENT MCDUFFIE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

After starting his career as an outside cornerback, McDuffie moved inside toward the second half of his rookie season and played mostly in the slot in his second season when the Chiefs had more than two cornerbacks on the field. This move aligned with McDuffie becoming one of the best young cornerbacks in the league and one of the most versatile players at the position.

His 16 total pressures in 2023 led all cornerbacks by a wide margin, and he gave up just nine receiving yards on seven targets in the Super Bowl.

Takeaway

We mentioned McDuffie as one among our snubs in last year’s reaction to the annual list, and he proved us right: he performed so brilliantly in 2023 that he was selected a first-team All-Pro. That rendered him unbeatable for this year’s tournament.

Two notable absentees are 24-year-old linebacker Nick Bolton and 23-year-old defensive end George Karlaftis, both of whom played major roles in Kansas City’s second consecutive Super Bowl victory. I believe it is also worth noting the names of 24-year-old wide receiver Rashee Rice and 24-year-old safety Brian Cook (who is technically eligible by two days due to his September 7 birthdate).

Like Humphrey, offensive guard Trey Smith is set to turn 25 before the NFL season begins and is no longer eligible.

Only one other AFC West team had a player make the list — the Denver Broncos — with 24-year-old cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr.