In a flurry of moves, the Los Angeles Rams retooled their roster on Tuesday by striking three trades with AFC teams. They acquired Austin Corbett from the Browns, sent Marcus Peters to the Ravens and landed All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Jaguars. In the trade for Peters, Baltimore gave the Rams linebacker Kenny Young.
It’s rare for three moves like that to be made on the same day, especially in the middle of the season. But Les Snead is always aggressive and never satisfied, so he felt it necessary to make some changes.
Here are the winners and losers from Tuesday’s moves.
Winner: Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey got his wish by being traded out of Jacksonville. He probably would’ve liked to be dealt anywhere in the league, but the Rams are a great landing spot. Ramsey is now in a much larger market in Los Angeles and playing for a team that’s moving into a spectacular new stadium next season. He’s a great fit in Wade Phillips’ scheme, which is at its best when corners are playing a lot of man coverage.
Losers: Bryce Hager and Troy Reeder
With Kenny Young coming to Los Angeles, the Rams are adding depth to the inside linebacker position. Reeder has started the last two games next to Cory Littleton, and Hager was benched last week in favor of the undrafted rookie Reeder. Neither player appears to be safe in their current roles, which is why the Rams made the move for Young. He won’t start right away, most likely, but he’ll at least compete for snaps.
Winners: Austin Corbett and Kenny Young
Corbett and Young both fell out of favor with their respective teams. Corbett couldn’t get on the field as a former second-round pick, while Young was benched the last two weeks and was even made a healthy scratch in Week 5. They’ll have to earn playing time in Los Angeles, but it’s better than the situations they were previously in. At least with the Rams, they get a fresh start and a chance to prove they can be key contributors.
Loser: Brian Allen
Corbett will likely compete at left guard with Joseph Noteboom out, but he might also get a chance to battle Allen at center. The Rams haven’t said exactly where he’ll play yet, but he’s primarily played center in the NFL. Allen has been one of the worst centers in the league this season and shouldn’t feel like he has a strong grip on the starting job, which is where Corbett comes into the equation.
Winner: Jared Goff
Goff has been under constant pressure this season behind the worst offensive line in football. Corbett isn’t a significant upgrade and may not even be a starter, but any acquisition is better than none at all. At the very least, Corbett adds depth on the interior. At best, he can replace either Allen at center or step in for Noteboom at left guard and upgrade the O-line. It’s good to see the Rams addressing the blocking issues.
Winner: Wade Phillips
Marcus Peters didn’t fit well in a man-heavy scheme, but that’s Ramsey’s forte. He thrives when matched up man-to-man, allowing him to be physical at the line of scrimmage and use his speed and length on the outside. Phillips has a prototypical man corner at his disposal now, which should elevate the pass defense in a big way. The arrival of Ramsey should make life easier for the Rams defensive coordinator.
Losers: Future Rams free agents
Ramsey is under contract through 2020, but he’ll likely get a record contract before his current deal expires. That doesn’t bode well for future free agents in Los Angeles, which includes Cooper Kupp, John Johnson, Gerald Everett and Dante Fowler Jr. The Rams will have to be wise with their spending after acquiring Ramsey and it could cause them to lose some of their top young starters. At minimum, this addition could mean Fowler hits free agency and doesn’t return. Put simply, there will be less money to go around.
