Les Snead and Sean McVay looked at their team after losing three games in a row and saw a need to get better. They clearly didn’t believe the Los Angeles Rams could compete as currently structured, so they made not one trade, not two, but three deals in a span of a few hours.
First, they acquired center Austin Corbett from the Browns. Then came the trade sending Marcus Peters to the Ravens. The cherry on top was a move to bring in Jalen Ramsey for a haul of three draft picks – including two first-rounders.
The secondary looks vastly different now with Peters gone and Aqib Talib injured, with Ramsey stepping in as the No. 1 cornerback. But were these trades necessary, and were they good moves for the Rams?
Let’s take a look at each one and hand out grades for all three.
Jalen Ramsey
Rams receive
CB Jalen Ramsey
Jaguars receive
2020 first-round pick
2021 first-round pick
2021 fourth-round pick
This was a complete stunner, but after the Rams moved Peters, it was a move that some predicted might happen. Los Angeles clearly needed a cornerback after losing Aqib Talib to IR and parting ways with Peters, and there wasn’t a better one available than Ramsey. Heck, there may not be a better one in the NFL than him.
It’s yet another superstar joining the Rams, bolstering a defense that’s been struggling. He’s a true lockdown corner with the swagger and confidence to match, which fits perfectly with what the Rams do on defense. He’ll immediately make the defense better and be an upgrade over both Peters and Talib, but there’s still plenty of risk that comes with this.
The Rams gave up two first-rounders and a fourth for a player who’s only under contract through 2020. If they don’t sign him to an extension soon or at least before his deal expires, it’s going to be a huge mistake. Ramsey will want to be the highest-paid cornerback, and rightfully so, and he’s made it clear in the past that he wants to break the bank.
The Rams have a history of letting defensive backs walk, but this is an instance where they must sign him long term. It’s an aggressive move, but the team can limit the risk by extending Ramsey.
Grade: B-
Marcus Peters
Rams receive
LB Kenny Young
2020 fifth-round pick
Ravens receive
CB Marcus Peters
This move didn’t make a ton of sense, to be honest. Peters was playing far better this season than he was a year ago and had an overall PFF grade of 76.6 before this trade, which ranked among the 10 best in the NFL. He didn’t turn out to be the shutdown cornerback the Rams hoped he’d be when they acquired him last year, but he was still a quality starter this year.
Trading him for a linebacker who was recently benched and a fourth-round pick seems short-sighted. Yes, he was set to be a free agent after this season – that played a big part in this deal – but even if the Rams kept him for the remainder of the year and let him walk, he would’ve netted them at least a third- or fourth-round compensatory pick in 2021. The point of the deal was clearly to free up enough cap space to land Ramsey.
Still, moving Peters for someone who may not make much of an impact this season is questionable. Young has the athleticism to play in the NFL, but as a former fourth-round pick, it’s not as if he was highly coveted coming out of UCLA. Linebacker depth in Los Angeles was thin, so at least Young adds to that, but he has to improve if he wants to start next to Cory Littleton.
This trade will become a win if Young steps up and starts at linebacker – especially if Littleton leaves in free agency – but if not, it’s questionable deal for Los Angeles.
Grade: C
Austin Corbett
Rams receive
C Austin Corbett
Browns receive
2021 fifth-round pick
The Rams needed offensive line help and they got it with Corbett – a former second-round pick in 2018. A change of scenery is exactly what Corbett needed as he struggled to get on the field in Cleveland. He’ll come in and compete with Brian Allen at center almost immediately, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take Allen’s job relatively soon.
There’s very little risk involved with this trade, given the low price of a fifth-round pick. It’s also a move that at the very least gives the Rams some much-needed depth on the offensive line. Corbett is a quality backup to have on the roster and given his draft pedigree, he has the potential to be a good starter, too.
There are no complaints with this move, given how hard it is to hit on fifth-round picks. It’s almost always better to trade them for players with NFL experience who simply don’t fit with their current teams.
Grade: A
