When the Rams decided to trade cornerback Marcus Peters to the Ravens for linebacker Kenny Young and an undisclosed 2020 draft pick Tuesday, the deal made immediate sense for Baltimore. On the surface, it's more of a head-scratcher for Los Angeles — until you break it all down.
The 4-2 Ravens got needed cornerback help opposite Marlon Humphrey with Jimmy Smith still shelved with a knee injury. The 3-3 Rams, however, also just moved Peters after placing their top cornerback, Aqib Talib, on IR with a rib injury.
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So why trade Peters, a big-play ballhawk who has 2 interceptions in six games? Here are five reasons:
The Rams saved $5.86 million under the salary cap by trading Marcus Peters
Peters carried a cap number of $9.06 million, but according to Spotrac, they will eat $3.2 million in dead money to clear his salary. Young is making less than $370,000 and is signed cheaply through 2021. The Rams had less than $3.5 million under the cap before making the move.
The Rams now can trade traded for a better CB than Marcus Peters
Peters did have some takeaways with two interceptions in six games, but overall the play of the former Chiefs Pro Bowler was shaky in Los Angeles. He remains more of a gambling corner who can be burned for big plays often rather than a solid cover man resembling anything close to a shutdown type. The Rams had a little more money free to land a veteran upgrade.
The Jaguars' Jalen Ramsey, made the most sense as target in a trade, and the Rams quickly parted with two first-round picks to get him to replace Peters.
The Rams weren't going to re-sign Marcus Peters as a 2020 free agent
Peters was bound to be unaffordable on the open market with the Rams having a ton of other big contracts in place. Moving him now for a player and a pick was better than getting something like only a supplemental pick for him as compensation later. Instead, they will invest long-term in Ramsey, a much better all-around player.
The Rams are happy with their younger remaining defensive backs
When Peters and Talib were battling injury issues last season, Troy Hill stepped in and did a nice job. He's now locked in as a starter outside for the time being with both gone. The Rams still have Nickell Robey-Coleman to man the slot, but now the other two options on the perimeter are rookie third-rounder David Long and second-year undrafted player Darious Williams. Long has some promise, but they have combined to be active for only one game in '19.
Hill might be fine for the Rams at one cornerback, but the inexperience on the other side plays into the theory they're not done with the cornerback trade business.
The Rams need Kenny Young to help their 3-4 linebacker corps
There have been some health issues for the Rams at the second level. Clay Matthews was playing well before being shelved with a jaw injury. Bryce Hager had to miss time with a shoulder injury. Micah Kiser landed on IR in the preseason with a chest injury.
Young, meanwhle, was benched by the Ravens after three starts this season for ineffective play, despite flashing well as a rookie playmaker in '18. Young seems like the gravy here to build on the cap savings and draft pick acquisition. The Rams need a versatile, active body at the position and will hope that Phillips' influence can up Young to get some decent defensive value in return for Peters.
