Kansas City traded picks No. 29, No. 94 and No. 121 to New…
Kansas City traded picks No. 29, No. 94 and No. 121 to New England to move up to No. 21 for cornerback Trent McDuffie. McDuffie became a championship cornerstone, winning two Super Bowls with Kansas City and earning consecutive All-Pro recognition. New England received Cole Strange and additional draft capital, but none of that return approached McDuffie's elite value at a premium position.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 2022 1st round pick (21st overall, Trent McDuffie )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2022 1st round pick (29th overall, Cole Strange )
- pick 2022 3rd round pick (94th overall subsequently traded, Matt Corral )
- pick 2022 4th round pick (121st overall, Jack Jones )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Kansas City moved from No. 29 to No. 21 on the first night of the 2022 draft, sending New England the 29th, 94th and 121st selections. The Chiefs used No. 21 on Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie. New England selected guard Cole Strange at No. 29, while the later choices became part of the Patriots' wider draft movement and produced additional player value, including Jack Jones.
Why Kansas City Came Out Ahead
McDuffie became exactly the kind of premium player that justifies an aggressive move up. He developed into a versatile shutdown corner, played a central role on consecutive Super Bowl championship teams and earned back-to-back All-Pro recognition. Kansas City was not simply buying a starter; it acquired one of the defining defenders of its championship window. That outcome dwarfs the normal value expected from moving up eight positions.
How New England Fared
The Patriots did collect quantity. Strange became a starter on the offensive line when available, and Jones flashed playmaking ability before his New England tenure ended. Those outcomes keep the package from being a total miss. Still, neither player supplied the combination of elite performance, durability and postseason importance that McDuffie delivered for Kansas City.
Final Verdict
Kansas City earns an A+ and New England a C. The Patriots followed a reasonable trade-down strategy and acquired multiple assets, but the Chiefs selected the rare player whose value makes the premium irrelevant. McDuffie's All-Pro seasons and championship impact turn this into one of the strongest draft-day wins of the period: a decisive Kansas City Chiefs Win.