Chiefs agree to trade Marcus Peters to Rams
The Kansas City Chiefs are closing in on their second big trade of their offseason.
The Chiefs agreed to send two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters to the Los Angeles Rams, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports' Mike Jones. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the deal, which cannot become official until the start of the new league year on March 14.
ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the trade. Schefter also reported the Rams gave up a fourth-round pick this year and a second-round pick in 2019, with the Chiefs also sending over a sixth-round pick in 2018.
Peters has emerged as one of the league's premier playmakers at cornerback, recording 19 interceptions in the last three seasons, the most of any player during that span. But he has had a tumultuous tenure in Kansas City and was suspended by coach Andy Reid for one game after throwing a flag into the stands in a December loss to the New York Jets.
Peters' departure could be a significant hit for a defense that ranked 29th in 2017. In addition to acquiring cornerback Kendall Fuller, whom the Chiefs landed in a January trade with the Washington Redskins for quarterback Alex Smith, Kansas City also signed David Amerson to boost its secondary.
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The trade would address one of the Rams' biggest offseason concerns, as cornerback Trumaine Johnson is set to become a free agent after playing on the franchise tag for the last two seasons.
Peters, 25, has one season remaining on his rookie contract, though the Rams would have until May 3 to decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option.
Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.
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