The effect of Marcus Peters’ trade on the 49ers and the free-agent cornerback market
By Chris Wilson
How does the Kansas City Chiefs’ trade of cornerback Marcus Peters to the Los Angeles Rams affect the San Francisco 49ers and their search for a corner in free agency?
On Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Kansas City Chiefs were expected to trade cornerback Marcus Peters to the Los Angeles Rams:
Chiefs are expected to trade CB Marcus Peters to the Los Angeles Rams, sources tell ESPN. Teams are in final stages of talks and barring an unexpected snag, the trade is expected to be agreed to as early as today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 23, 2018
Less than an hour later, Schefter reported that the deal was completed, although it won’t be processed until the NFL’s 2018 league year begins next month:
Marcus Peters to LA Rams trade is now officially agreed to, per source; cannot be processed until March 14. But Peters expected to be a Ram.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 23, 2018
This trade has the potential to help the San Francisco 49ers in one way, and is sure to help the Niners in another.
First, although the Chiefs’ specific compensation has yet to be revealed, it has been reported that Kansas City will exclusively receive draft picks in exchange for Peters. The 49ers hope the Rams overpaid for Peters, which is very possible given the circumstances surrounding the trade — specifically, the speed at which the Chiefs agreed to the deal, and more importantly, the fact Kansas City put Peters on the trade block in the first place.
San Francisco 49ers
NFL teams don’t give up top cornerbacks unless there is something significantly wrong with the player. Peters certainly has talent — he has 19 interceptions in three seasons, was an All-Pro in 2016, and was Pro Football Focus’ 17th best corner in 2017.
Peters also has a long history of self-control problems. Known for his sideline tantrums and fights with coaches at the University of Washington, Peters was eventually kicked off the team. His behavior continued in Kansas City, where he was the center of a variety of controversies, and was suspended after another sideline tantrum and an argument with a coach.
Like his college coaches, after spending three years getting to know Peters, the Chiefs coaching staff decided the team was better off without the cornerback. The 49ers hope the Rams traded shutdown corner-level compensation for a volatile player the Rams will look to walk away from after a two-year rental.
Second, the deal adds another cornerback, Trumaine Johnson, to the free-agent market. After receiving the franchise tag from the Rams in two consecutive seasons, the Peters trade means Johnson will finally get to test free agency.
With the Chiefs likely to play Kendall Fuller — the slot corner they received from the Washington Redskins in the Alex Smith trade — on the outside, both the Chiefs and the Redskins are unlikely to compete with the 49ers for a physical outside cornerback in free agency.
At 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, Johnson is a potential fit for the 49ers’ defensive scheme. And if he signs elsewhere, his signing would open up another potential free-agent cornerback for San Francisco.
While this trade’s impact on the free-agent market is a win-win for the 49ers, we’ll need more information regarding trade compensation before we can form a stronger opinion on the trade’s impact on the Rams. 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo certainly doesn’t want to face Peters twice a season.
But will the Rams be able to keep Peters on the field, and how much did they pay for the opportunity?
Next: More on cornerback Trumaine Johnson
While at first glance, this trade appears to be a positive for the San Francisco 49ers, we’ll probably have to wait a few years for the final verdict.