Chiefs trading talented, hot-headed CB Marcus Peters to the Rams. Is this the right move?

The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams agreed to a trade that will officially send two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters to LA when the new league year begins on March 14, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Rams will send the Chiefs a 2018 fourth-round pick and a 2019 second rounder in exchange for Peters and Kansas City’s 2018 sixth-round selection, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That’s not nearly the haul that was expected for Kansas City, which loses one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

Peters, 25, was a first-round pick in 2015 and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors when he led the NFL in interceptions with eight. In his three NFL seasons, he’s racked up 19 interceptions and another two in the postseason, which has easily outclassed the rest of the league.

The Rams are getting a dangerous cornerback who makes big plays at a rate at which Trumaine Johnson, an impending free agent, didn’t. Johnson has 18 interceptions in his six NFL seasons and was franchise tagged a year ago, but is almost certainly headed out of LA after the Peters trade.

The principle reason Kansas City was likely uncomfortable with signing Peters to a long-term deal is his propensity for losing his head on the field.

Peters has been caught on video cursing at fans, and picked up an official’s flag earlier in a 2017 game and threw it into the stands. He left the field, despite not being ejected, and later returned to the field without socks.

He was suspended for a game and there were reports of a heated confrontation with coach Andy Reid.

This offseason, the Chiefs had to decide if the team wanted to pick up the fifth-year option of Peters. With many concerns about his attitude raised — in spite of his charitable actions off the field — Kansas City elected to send him elsewhere while he was cheap and at his highest value.

After trading up to get Patrick Mahomes a year ago, the Chiefs entered 2018 without much draft capital. But sending Peters to the Rams will likely result in a strong package of draft picks headed to Kansas City.

Los Angeles turned things around in a hurry with new head coach Sean McVay, but the team’s No. 1 offense was anchored by a defense that finished No. 12 in points allowed and No. 19 in yards allowed.

There are pieces already in place — namely, reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald — but contract issues were bubbling up. Donald wants a new deal, Trumaine Johnson is approaching free agency after getting the franchise tag last year, and safety LaMarcus Joyner and receiver Sammy Watkins could also hit the open market soon.

By getting Peters, the Rams get a cornerback who has been better than Johnson and comes with a cap hit just over $3 million in 2017. Eventually, the Rams will probably want a long-term contract with the cornerback, but it buys the team time to get other important pieces locked down first.

There’s also the fact that he’s an absolute turnover machine:

That’s a perfect fit for Wade Phillips, the defensive coordinator of the Rams who has a reputation for aggressive, ball-hunting defenses. Los Angeles was No. 5 in the NFL in turnovers in 2017 and prior to that, Phillips led the dangerous Denver Broncos defense in 2015 and 2016.

Phillips also has a history of getting the most out of strong personalities, just like he did with Aqib Talib in Denver:

Peters should fit right in. If the Rams can harness and direct his energy while avoiding his tendency for outbursts, Los Angeles will have another exciting young player in place for the future.