Kansas City Chiefs star Trent McDuffie has officially become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL on a per-year basis, according to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN. The new figures represent a significant reset of the market for elite defensive backs.
According to @AdamSchefter, McDuffie now leads the league at the position with an average annual salary of $31 million. He is followed closely by Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets at $30.1 million and Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans at $30 million. The rapid rise in compensation reflects the increasing value NFL franchises are placing on lockdown perimeter defenders.
Rounding out the top of the updated list are Jaycee Horn at $25 million, Jalen Ramsey at $24.1 million, and Patrick Surtain II at $24 million. This surge in annual value for McDuffie, Gardner, and Stingley Jr. marks a new era for cornerback contracts, with the top three players at the position now all eclipsing the $30 million per year threshold.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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