Trent Mcduffie's Wish Of Playing For Sean Mcvay In L.a. Comes True

Trent McDuffie was a young precocious schoolhouse subordinate successful Southern California erstwhile nan Rams returned from St. Louis to Los Angeles successful 2016.

During Rams training campy that summer, McDuffie watched HBO “Hard Knocks” episodes astir nan squad pinch his parents, and they were enamored by coach Sean McVay.

“I retrieve conscionable being like, ‘Dang, I would for illustration to play for that guy,’” McDuffie said Thursday.

McDuffie, an All-Pro cornerback acquired by nan Rams successful a blockbuster trade, recalled those thoughts during an introductory news convention astatine nan team’s installation successful Woodland Hills aft he signed a record-breaking four-year hold that reportedly includes $100 cardinal successful guarantees.

“Fast guardant each these years, and now I’m present and it’s conscionable a full-circle moment,” he said of getting to play for McVay. “Watched this guy, wanted to play for this feline and now this feline wants me.”

To onshore McDuffie, Rams wide head Les Snead sent nan Kansas City Chiefs nan 29th wide prime and fifth- and sixth-round picks successful this year’s draft, and a 2027 third-round pick.

The Rams besides signed erstwhile Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year statement that includes $34 cardinal successful guarantees.

The moves were a complete departure from past year, erstwhile nan Rams wrongly gambled that a young and fierce walk unreserved could offset their determination to not make a azygous upgrade to nan secondary.

The additions of McDuffie and Watson to an already heavy and talented roster that features reigning NFL astir valuable subordinate Matthew Stafford, nan Rams will beryllium a favourite to play successful Super Bowl LXI astatine SoFi Stadium successful February.

And make nary mistake: Like they did successful 2021, nan Rams will do thing imaginable to guarantee that proprietor Stan Kroenke is stepping nan Super Bowl sideline successful nan stadium he built successful Inglewood.

McDuffie noted that nan Rams person been “knocking connected nan door, year-in and year-out” since his rookie play pinch nan Chiefs successful 2022. A winning civilization already is successful place.

“This squad is fresh to go,” said McDuffie, a first-round prime retired of Washington who starred successful precocious schoolhouse astatine Anaheim Servite and Bellflower St. John Bosco highs. “I don’t deliberation I’m coming successful present pinch a squad that doesn’t understand nan worth that they have.

“So those small nuggets that I consciousness I tin conscionable move into guys that tin get america complete nan hump, I’m going to do everything I can.”

Rams cornerback Jaylen Watson speaks during his introductory news convention successful Woodland Hills connected Thursday.

(William Liang / Associated Press)

McDuffie and Watson, a 2022 seventh-round pick, were portion of Chiefs teams that won 2 championships successful 3 Super Bowl appearances.

“We really learned what it takes to triumph a Super Bowl, get to nan Super Bowl, nan mentation and nan clip it takes to beryllium elaborate successful your craft,” McDuffie said.

When news astir nan waste and acquisition collapsed past week, 1 of nan first calls McDuffie answered was from Rams prima receiver Puka Nacua, a erstwhile Washington teammate.

“He was conscionable screaming astatine nan apical of his lungs,” McDuffie said. “I’m for illustration ‘Puka, bro, I miss this energy. I miss what you bring.’ I’m conscionable excited to beryllium backmost connected nan section pinch him.”

McDuffie and Watson besides are excited astir continuing their partnership, which began erstwhile they were among 5 protect backs drafted by nan Chiefs 4 years ago.

Watson, 27, grew up successful Georgia but played 2 seasons astatine Ventura College earlier finishing his assemblage profession astatine Washington State.

Like McDuffie, he is happy to beryllium backmost successful Southern California weather.

“Everyone’s conscionable truthful bully here,” Watson said of nan region, earlier quipping, “then you’ve sewage your taxes.”

The 5-foot-11 McDuffie and nan 6-2 Watson will springiness secondary coach Jimmy Lake — who coached McDuffie successful assemblage — options for matchups.

“That’s why I deliberation maine and Trent complement each different truthful well,” Watson said. “His strengths are short-area quickness, nan mini shifty guys. And my strengths are nan large receivers.

“So we should beryllium beautiful diverse. We should beryllium capable to lucifer up beautiful good against a batch of different looks we get.”

McDuffie and Watson subordinate a cornerback group that includes Emmanuel Forbes Jr. The Rams person until May 1 to find if they will workout a fifth-year action connected Forbes, a 2023 first-round draught prime by Washington who was claimed disconnected waivers by nan Rams successful 2024.

Forbes will gain astir $2 cardinal this season, but would beryllium guaranteed $12.6 cardinal if nan Rams workout nan option.

The Rams will statesman offseason workouts successful April.

McDuffie is happy to beryllium backmost home.

“It’s hot, nan sun’s out,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”