Kansas City Chiefs–Los Angeles Rams Trade History

Dallas transferred the rights to Les Richter to Los Angeles on June 12, 1952, for 11 Rams players in what the Pro Football Hall of Fame describes as the biggest NFL trade to that point. Richter served two years in the Army before joining the Rams, then made eight consecutive Pro Bowls and never missed a game. Most of Dallas' 11-player haul provided little lasting value.

The Los Angeles Rams acquired Bob Stein plus the 1973 second- and fourth-round picks used on Jim Youngblood and Eddie McMillan, sending Willie Ellison and Pete Beathard to Kansas City. Youngblood became a long-term Rams linebacker and Pro Bowl-level contributor, giving Los Angeles lasting value well beyond Kansas City's veteran return and making the Rams the clear winner.

Kansas City acquired offensive tackle Jim Nicholson from the Los Angeles Rams for a 1975 fifth-round pick. Nicholson became a long-term Chiefs starter, appearing in 72 games with 62 starts from 1974 through 1979. Los Angeles used the No. 112 selection on defensive tackle Wayne Hammond, but Hammond never played a regular-season game for the Rams and later logged only five NFL games with Denver. Kansas City received the far stronger realized return.

Kansas City sent Dean Carlson to the Rams for conditional draft consideration, not a draft pick that can be traced to a later selection. Los Angeles' own 1976 media guide records the deal on an “if” basis and says “no deal,” while Carlson's transaction history shows the Rams released him less than three weeks after acquiring him. Because Carlson never played a regular-season game for Los Angeles and Kansas City received no conveyed pick, neither side realized meaningful value.

The Rams sent defensive lineman George Stanley "Stan" Johnson to Kansas City for the future third-round pick that became No. 58, Jeff Moore. Johnson played 10 games without a start for the Chiefs in 1978 and never appeared in another NFL season. Moore later played 24 games for the Rams, catching 17 passes for 273 yards and one touchdown. Los Angeles gained the slightly better, though still modest, return.

Kansas City sent veteran tight end Walter White and a 1980 seventh-round pick, correctly No. 176 Kirk Collins, to the Rams for a 1980 sixth-round pick, No. 164 Larry Heater, and a 1981 third-round pick, No. 78 Lloyd Burruss. Burruss became the defining asset, playing 145 games with 103 starts, earning a Pro Bowl selection and later entering the Chiefs Hall of Honor. The corrected pick numbers and Burruss' career make Kansas City the decisive winner.

Los Angeles got 32 games and 18 starts from Eric Harris, including four interceptions in 1983, while Steve Fuller never played a Rams regular-season snap but was later traded for two draft picks, one of which became four-year Rams receiver Mike Young. Kansas City received useful one-season roles from Lucious Smith and Jewerl Thomas and later recycled its pick assets. Both sides found value, but the Rams' longer realized return earns the B+ to B edge.

The Rams acquired veteran cornerback Gary Green from Kansas City for the selections that became first-round tackle John Alt and fifth-rounder Jeff Paine. Green rewarded Los Angeles with two strong seasons and nine interceptions, so the Rams received genuine value. Alt's 13-year Chiefs career and 149 starts ultimately gave Kansas City the more durable and valuable return.

The Rams acquired linebacker Chris Martin from Kansas City in May 1993 for a conditional 1994 draft choice tied to his playing time. The condition became pick No. 199, which the Chiefs used on quarterback Steve Matthews. Martin gave Los Angeles two seasons of useful veteran service, while Matthews appeared in only three NFL games, producing a clear but modest Rams win.

Kansas City Chiefs received Mitch Jacoby from Los Angeles Rams in the 1999-08-31 trade. Kansas City acquired tight end Mitch Jacoby, who appeared in five games for the Chiefs and caught one pass for six yards. Los Angeles Rams's return was 2000 6th round pick (189th overall subsequently traded, Mike Anderson). The Rams received pick No. 189 and later moved it to Denver for Derek Loville. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Kansas City traded the No. 12 pick for Trent Green and a fifth-round pick. Green became a two-time Pro Bowler, started every game for five straight seasons, and directed one of the league's most productive offenses. The Rams selected Damione Lewis, who had a long NFL career, but Kansas City received the franchise quarterback and the stronger total value.

Kansas City Chiefs received Joe Germaine from Los Angeles Rams in the 2001-09-03 trade. Kansas City acquired Joe Germaine, a depth quarterback whose Chiefs tenure produced little regular-season value. Los Angeles Rams's return was 2002 6th round pick (183rd overall subsequently traded, James Lewis). The Rams received the 2002 sixth-round pick at No. 183 and later traded it to Indianapolis for Terrence Wilkins. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Kansas City traded Marcus Peters and a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Rams for a 2018 fourth-rounder and a 2019 second-rounder. Those picks became Armani Watts and Juan Thornhill. Peters helped Los Angeles reach Super Bowl LIII, but Thornhill developed into a multi-year Chiefs starter and championship contributor, giving Kansas City stronger long-term value from the package.

Kansas City moved up five spots for Mecole Hardman, giving the Rams pick No. 61 and a fifth-rounder. Hardman became a useful speed weapon and return option across multiple championship runs, while Los Angeles turned No. 61 into Taylor Rapp, a starting safety on its Super Bowl LVI team. Both clubs extracted meaningful value from the exchange.

Kansas City sent All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles and received the No. 29 pick in the 2026 draft, 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks, and a 2027 third-round choice. The first-rounder became Peter Woods, while the later 2026 picks were subsequently moved to Pittsburgh. The Chiefs obtained substantial draft capital, but no regular-season results from the new assets exist yet, so the current grade remains provisional.