Rams fans may love the team's surprising link to its new All Pro Trent McDuffie

The Los Angeles Rams closed out the 2025 NFL season armed with 10 draft picks, but with glaring needs in their secondary, special teams, and roster depth for 2026. Well, fast-forward to the present, and the team has fewer draft picks but has made significant progress in improving the secondary.

Los Angeles traded for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie in a blockbuster move that general manager Les Snead all but admitted to doing days ago.

While some fans may anguish over surrendering multiple picks for McDuffie, the reality is that the team almost certainly feels confident in its ability to extend him beyond a one-year rental. And if LA can extend him quickly, the move places pressure on all other teams to up the ante.

But how could Snead be so confident in McDuffie's willingness to give his all in Horns? Ah, he had a ringer. You see, new defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake recruited and coached Trent McDuffie at Washington in 2019. And it seems that their bond has endured the test of time.

The pair are reuniting in Los Angeles at a time when the success of their 2026 season could hinge on their ability to rekindle old magic. And who better to squeeze every bit out of an All-Pro cornerback than the coach who recruited him out of high school?

Jimmy Lake is a godfather of collegiate defensive back excellence

The Washington Huskies were a premier college incubator for elite NFL defensive backs during Jimmy Lake's tenure. The team made headlines at the 2017 NFL draft when three players from the same secondary heard their names in the second round. They were safety Kevin King, Budda Baker, and cornerback Sidney Jones.

Trent McDuffie joined the Huskies in 2019, the final season for Jimmy Lake as defensive backs coach. Lake would accept a promotion to head coach of the Huskies and lead their team in 2020 through 2021.

McDuffie has been a huge success in the Kansas City Chiefs secondary. LA general manager Les Snead hopes that the same level of success can translate to the Horns. But the team made a significant investment with four picks, and that often means that the player and his agent have been contacted and are willing to negotiate an extension.

McDuffie's current contract expires at the end of 2026.

Lake has a reputation for staying in close contact with his former players. And McDuffier is certainly in that category.

If you are unhappy with Snead's swift action, you will be dissatisfied with all things leading up to the trade. But if you are tickled pink, as many fans are right now, you can thank Coach Jimmy Lake for remaining in touch with his former players.

It appears that has led to one of the biggest trades in some time.

As always, thanks for reading.