Andy Reid and Clark Hunt were not yet on board with Marcus Peters as a long-term Chiefs component, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). Concern inside Chiefs headquarters centered on a possible Peters extension, per Rapoport. The fourth-year cornerback is now eligible for a long-term deal, and it’s fairly clear the Chiefs had significant reservations about being the team that signed the accomplished corner to that contract. And that issue may have been forced this year. But Peters’ issues in the locker room played a key part in the franchise wanting to trade him, Rapoport reports.
The Chiefs knew Peters would demand to be the NFL’s highest-paid corner, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports, leading to this preemptive strike. Peters is set to make barely $3MM this season, and the Rams are now responsible for picking up his fifth-year option — which they surely will given the timing of this trade. Peters skipped OTAs last year, and Paylor notes a possible training camp holdout could have transpired this summer. A 2016 first-team All-Pro and 2015 defensive rookie of the year, Peters received his best Pro Football Focus assessment for his 2017 work. Entering his age-25 season, Peters has 19 interceptions. He forced a career-high five fumbles in 2017.
Here’s more from the Peters front.
- Rapoport reports this Rams/Chiefs deal will bring a package of picks to the Chiefs, but none of those is believed to be a first-rounder. That will mean the Chiefs still do not have a 2018 first-rounder after shipping it to the Bills in last year’s Patrick Mahomes deal. Kansas City picked up an extra third-rounder in January’s Alex Smith deal and collected a compensatory sixth-rounder in this draft as well. The Rams already shipped a 2018 second-round pick to the Bills for Sammy Watkins, so this latest trade could leave Los Angeles’ selection supply weakened.
- Wade Phillips‘ strong personality should mesh well with Peters’ polarizing style, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com tweets, recalling a conversation he had with a veteran defensive backs coach when Peters was draft-eligible in 2015. Phillips’ ability to get through to Aqib Talib helped the Broncos’ mercurial corner craft the most memorable portion of his career, with Talib helping the Broncos to a Super Bowl title in his first season with Phillips and landing on the All-Pro first team in his second.
- The 49ers were also interested in Peters, with the Browns’ interest being disputed, but the Seahawks were not exploring a Peters back back to Seattle despite his history in the city, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes. Peters was kicked off the University of Washington’s team during the 2014 season. Additionally, the playmaking corner measures just under 6-foot and has 31 1/2-inch arms. Pointing out the Seahawks haven’t drafted a boundary corner with arms shorter than 32 inches during Pete Carroll‘s tenure, Condotta writes Peters may not have been a fit in Seattle.
Yeah he wouldn’t have been a fit in Seattle because his arms are 1/2” short…just can’t have that kind of thing
Haha yep…game of inches I guess
Broad jump and lineman another sticking point.
Solid pickup for the Rams, especially since they’ll likely be losing Trumaine and possibly being forced to tag Joyner…
Overall, it’s a a push, in terms of talent, but they’ll get a little younger and cheaper, allowing the Rams to use that money elsewhere…Like I said, it’s a great move for the Rams to maintain their talent level, and so they can maintain more financial flexibility…Financial flexibility will be pivotal as this team tries to add future talent, but more importantly, hold together and resign/extend their young core..
Push “in terms of talent”????
Peters is one of the best corners in the game and Johnson is no where close. And the picks LA are sending might not even come close to the level of Peters.
Hard to say if this is a good deal or not until the compensation for Peters is announced. But if the Chiefs don’t get a first rounder either this year or next, definitely a steal for the Rams. IMO.
Didn’t the Rams trade Quinn as part of the deal ?
it was said that he was at first but the Rams just ended up getting picks.
This trade only works for KC if it, well, works for KC. He does well in LA they’re morons, he acts up they’re savy.
I think Peters attitude sucks and wouldn’t want him on my team
Having seen his college and pro propensity for hissy fits, and tirades, maybe addition by subtraction for KC.