Rams' blockbuster trade already paying dividends after 49ers' free agency splash

By and large, Los Angeles Rams fans loved the trade for cornerback Trent McDuffie when it happened. This team needed help at cornerback, so they kicked off the offseason by adding one of the top-tier names at the position. 

Even better, they followed up by signing McDuffie's former Chiefs teammate, Jaylen Watson, to slide in as CB2. Outstanding work, Les Snead. Those swift and savvy actions multiplied general manager Les Snead's extensions of Quentin Lake and Kam Curl.

Perhaps in the nick of time.

The Rams general manager is already seeing his moves pay off. That observation comes with the rival San Francisco 49ers inking free-agent veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, a six-time Pro Bowler, to a three-year, $42 million deal.

In McDuffie, Los Angeles now has the No. 1 corner to match up with San Francisco's projected No. 1 receiver. Well, would you look at that: just another offseason starring Les Snead and his crystal ball. 

49ers got their guy but the Rams already had an answer 

Okay, so maybe he had no idea, just like the rest of us, that the 49ers had their eyes on Evans in particular. It wasn't hard to figure, though, that they would be in the market for a wideout with Jauan Jennings, who led the team in receiving touchdowns, becoming a free agent himself. 

Even at age 32, Evans is on a whole different level than wide receiver Juaun Jennings when healthy. Derailed by injuries in 2025, he surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his first 11 seasons for the Buccaneers. He reeled in at least 67 catches every year during that span and has 108 receiving touchdowns in his career. 

McDuffie, however, will be up to the task of covering him. Pro Football Focus had him as their 11th-ranked corner last season. But the two-time Super Bowl champion was not necessarily at his most impressive. In 2024, McDuffie made the All-Pro Second Team. In 2023, he was selected for the All-Pro First Team. 

He is also just 25 years old, a big reason the Rams made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history with a four-year, $124 million extension. Barring further contract alterations, he will play 2026 on a $13.6 million team option left over from his rookie deal with the Chiefs. 

Grading out in the top 15 percent in both coverage and run defense, McDuffie displays all-around excellence at his position. Evans won't have it easy going up against him. 

For one thing, he should expect his career average of 15.1 yards per catch to go down. Per PFF, McDuffie allowed just 9.2 yards per reception in Kansas City last season, 10th-fewest. 

Of course, the matchup won't be easy for McDuffie, either. At 6-foot-5, 231 pounds, Evans has an advantage of a solid six inches in height and nearly 40 pounds of mass. 

That said, Evans should not expect to run him over. McDuffie's four missed tackles per PFF ranked 16th-lowest. The Horn's cornerback will also have an advantage in speed and agility. Never a speedster, Evans now has plenty of miles on his wheels. He won't beat McDuffie deep without the benefit of a blown coverage. 

And even in the rare event that he does, the Rams still have an excellent safety corps featuring the re-signed Kam Kurl, plus Kamren Kinchens and Quentin Lake. What began the offseason as a glaring weakness in the secondary, Snead has turned into a promising strength.