Los Angeles Rams tried for Joel Bitonio, settled for Austin Corbett
The Los Angeles Rams made a couple of trades to try to improve their roster as they attempt to get back to the Super Bowl. Beyond the blockbuster deal that netted them Jalen Ramsey for a pair of first round picks and a fourth round pick with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Rams first tried to address the offensive line.
As reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Rams initially tried to trade for Browns stud left guard Joel Bitonio. They offered corner Marcus Peters, who was drafted by John Dorsey when he was the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs. After Dorsey left Kansas City, the Chiefs traded Peters to the Rams for a first round pick.
Dorsey turned down the laughable offer, but then countered with Austin Corbett, second year offensive lineman that hasn't materialized into a contributor. The Rams ultimately made a deal with the Browns for Corbett, then sent Peters to the Baltimore Ravens for a fifth round pick and linebacker Kenny Young. That opened the door for the deal for Ramsey.
Bitonio is one of the Browns better players and should be a prized possession. He's enjoying another terrific year after being named 2nd team All-Pro last season. Nevertheless, it was a positive for Dorsey to find a way to move Corbett for a draft asset. The former 33rd overall pick in 2018 was retained in the hopes that he might become something, but if a good offer came along, they could go ahead and try to recover some of the value lost in the selection.
A fifth round pick in 2021 is a forgettable pick, but is one of those things it's nice to have when that draft rolls around. The Browns will have an extra pick lying around, either to go ahead and grab another player or to include as a sweetener in another trade.
