Cooper Mcdonald

Career StatsD-

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		17	25	—	—
2025		17	25	0.0	0

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Cooper McDonald's three-year, $3M deal with the Kansas City Chiefs represents an absolute steal for the defending champions, earning a coveted A CVI grade that reflects exceptional value at the linebacker position. While McDonald profiles as a depth piece rather than an every-down starter, securing any NFL-caliber linebacker for just $1M annually in today's inflated market is shrewd roster construction. The Chiefs are betting on developmental upside with a player who likely has room to grow into a more prominent role, and at this price point, they're getting that potential essentially for free. The three-year structure gives Kansas City control over McDonald's prime development years without any significant financial risk — if he flames out, they can cut ties with minimal dead money, but if he emerges as a contributor, they've locked him up at a fraction of what capable linebackers typically command. This is the type of low-cost, high-upside move that championship organizations use to maintain depth while allocating resources to premium positions, and McDonald's A-grade CVI reflects just how much value the Chiefs extracted in this under-the-radar signing.

Performance Analysis

Cooper McDonald earns a D- for the Chiefs at linebacker, a depth player who has not made a meaningful impact on Kansas City's championship-caliber defense. McDonald has been used primarily on special teams, and his limited defensive reps have not been impressive. His instincts and coverage ability are below the standard the Chiefs defense demands. Kansas City has one of the deepest rosters in football, and McDonald is fighting for the last spot. He is a practice-squad level player trying to hang on in an extremely competitive environment.