Who Should I Start? Trent McDuffie or Markquese Bell

Tuesday, April 29, 1:14 PM

The Kansas City Chiefs plan to pick up the fifth-year option of cornerback Trent McDuffie and pass-rusher George Karlaftis for the 2026 season, a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. McDuffie, who was the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Washington, was a first-time All-Pro in his second year in 2023 and had 59 tackles (45 solo), half a sack, six tackles for loss, his first two career interceptions, 13 pass breakups and a forced fumble in 16 regular-season starts for the Chiefs in 2024. The 24-year-old has started all 43 games that he's appeared in since entering the league in 2022 and will continue to be a staple for KC's secondary. Karlaftis, the 30th overall pick in 2022 out of Purdue, has 24.5 sacks in his three seasons, with his best year coming in 2023, when he had 10.5 sacks in 16 starts. The 24-year-old added four sacks in the team's three playoff games this past season.

Sunday, March 9, 9:37 PM

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) and the Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms on a three-year $12 million deal. Bell appeared in just nine games for the Cowboys in 2024, hindered by an ankle sprain early in the year and ending the season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury he picked up in mid-November. However, the 26-year-old racked up 94 tackles in 2023 (second-most on the team) while logging the seventh-most snaps of any Dallas defensive back. Despite the lack of playing time across his first three seasons in the league (31 games), the Cowboys saw fit to lock up the safety for at least three more years. He'll likely assume his backup role in Dallas' defensive backfield again in 2025.