Rams News: Wade Phillips Says Los Angeles Wasn’t Expecting To Land Marcus Peters

The Los Angeles Rams have made it clear that they are all in on the 2018 NFL season. They kickstarted the offseason with the acquisition of cornerback Marcus Peters.

Needless to say, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is among those excited about the addition. However, he was admittedly surprised that general manager Les. Snead was able to pull off the deal, per Joe Curley of the Ventura County Star:

“We weren’t expecting to get the guy who led the league the last three years in interceptions… Les did a great job.”

Peters has arguably been one of the best playmakers in the league ever since he was taken with the 18th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. During that time, he has registered 19 interceptions, 55 pass deflections, and six forced fumbles. That said, his uncanny ability to force turnovers should make him an ideal fit in Phillips’ defense.

The Rams gave up a  2018 fourth-round pick and 2019 second round pick in exchange for Peters and a 2018 sixth round pick. The move was seen as a bit of a risk considering the two-time All-Pro is entering the final year of his rookie contract. However, the team is confident they will be able to retain his talents for the future.

Los Angeles doubled down on its mission to shore up the secondary by trading for former Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib as well. They were also able to lock up safety Lamarcus Joyner, and slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman while safety John Johnson continues to make promising strides. That said, the Rams now boast one of the most formidable units in the league.

The team’s turnaround last season was nothing short of remarkable. However, it has become evident that the front office is not resting on its laurels from the 2017 campaign. As a result, the expectations have been raised higher than ever moving forward.