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The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly identified the next star who they will offer a contract extension - just one day after handing Trey Smith a historic deal.
On Tuesday, the Chiefs reached an agreement with Smith over a new four-year, $94million contract, hours before Tuesday's franchise-tag deadline.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Smith's new deal, which includes $70m guaranteed, makes him the highest-paid guard in NFL history.
And, according to reports, the Chiefs are not stopping there as they look to bounce back from their Super Bowl drubbing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.
ESPN now claim that the Chiefs will turn their attention to cornerback Trent McDuffie - who currently has two years left on his rookie deal.
Speaking on ESPN's NFL Live, Nate Taylor said: 'Based on Sauce Gardner's deal, the Chiefs will now shift their focus to All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, who you could argue has been the more productive player.
The Kansas City Chiefs will reportedly 'shift their focus' to All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie
McDuffie was a first-round pick in 2022 and isn't set to become a free agent until 2027
'Can they get a deal done with Trent McDuffie before training camp, before the regular season starts?'
Fellow cornerback Gardner has put pen to paper on a four-year contract worth $120.4million in New York, which gives him a yearly salary of $30.1m.
The lucrative extension includes $60m guaranteed and will keep him at MetLife Stadium through 2030.
McDuffie, meanwhile, was a first-round pick back in 2022 and has a fifth-year option in his current deal, which the Chiefs already picked up. He isn't set to become a free agent until 2027.
However, the Chiefs appear keen on tying down the defensive stalwart to a fresh deal after impressive displays last year.
He recorded two interceptions, 13 pass breakups, 45 solo tackles, six tackles for loss and one forced fumble in 16 games last season.
Meanwhile, Chiefs star Smith is set to earn the highest-average annual salary and most guaranteed money ever handed to a guard, according to reports.
With both Smith and Creed Humphrey on the offensive line, Kansas City now has the highest-paid guard and center in the NFL after agreeing a record deal with the former.
The Chiefs reached an agreement with Trey Smith over a new four-year, $94million deal
Sauce Gardner has agreed a record-breaking new deal with the New York Jets, just days prior
Humphrey signed a four-year extension of his own worth $72m with $50m guaranteed in August 2024, which remains the record for a center.
The Chiefs used their franchise tag on Smith in February in order to maintain control of the coveted lineman for another season, albeit at the hefty salary of $23.4m.
Smith and Kansas City are coming off a heavy Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles – a defeat he believes will make them stronger going forward.
'I think you need losses in life to learn from it,' Smith recently told Kay Adams' Up and Adams podcast.
