Los Angeles Rams received Derek Carrier from Washington…

The Exchange

On 2017-09-02, Los Angeles Rams received Derek Carrier, while Washington Commanders received 2018 7th round pick (241st overall, Greg Stroman). The exchange is evaluated by the regular-season service and draft outcomes each club actually received from those assets. Later movement matters only when it directly clarifies what became of the original return, keeping the comparison tied to this transaction. Los Angeles Rams Return The Rams received Derek Carrier and used him in a modest tight end role for one season. He provided real but limited short-term service after the exchange. The C grade reflects the size, duration, and usefulness of that return relative to what Los Angeles Rams surrendered. The assessment gives credit for documented football value rather than for hypothetical value the asset might have produced elsewhere. Washington Commanders Return Washington received the seventh-round choice later used on Greg Stroman. Stroman supplied defensive-back and special-teams depth, giving Washington a modest return from the draft asset. The C grade applies the same standard to Washington Commanders, focusing on the service or draft result the club actually obtained. That keeps the comparison proportional to the original cost and the relatively limited scope of the transaction. Value in Hindsight Carrier and Stroman each provided useful but limited service, and neither side gained a durable difference-maker from the exchange. The returns are close in scale and impact, making equal C grades and an even verdict the most proportional result. Hindsight here does not require either side to have acquired a star. The deciding question is which club converted its incoming asset or assets into the stronger supported football return, while keeping the grade gap consistent with the scale of the deal. Final Verdict The final call is Even Trade. Los Angeles Rams earns C, and Washington Commanders earns C. Those grades reflect the documented package, the playing time or draft value that followed, and the relative durability of each club's return. For a minor transaction, the evidence supports that result without overstating the long-term importance of the exchange.