Carolina moved up eleven spots in the 2018 fourth round to…
Carolina moved up eleven spots in the 2018 fourth round to select edge rusher Marquis Haynes at No. 136, sending the Rams picks No. 147 and No. 197. Haynes became a durable rotational pass rusher for the Panthers, appearing across seven seasons and producing 14 sacks. Los Angeles landed linebacker Micah Kiser at No. 147, but Carolina received the stronger long-term contribution from the deal.
Carolina Panthers Received
- pick 2018 4th round pick (136th overall, Marquis Haynes )
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2018 5th round pick (147th overall, Micah Kiser )
- pick 2018 6th round pick (197th overall, subsequently traded to Washington)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Carolina traded picks No. 147 and No. 197 to Los Angeles for No. 136 during the 2018 draft, then used the higher selection on Ole Miss edge defender Marquis Haynes. The Rams selected Virginia linebacker Micah Kiser at No. 147. Pick No. 197 did not become a Rams player because Los Angeles later moved that selection to Washington. The transaction was therefore a classic Day 3 choice between one preferred prospect and two bites at the board.
Why Carolina Pulled Ahead
Haynes gave the Panthers the more durable return. He developed into a regular rotational edge rusher and special-teams contributor, staying with Carolina for seven seasons and totaling 14 sacks. That is meaningful staying power for a fourth-round defender, especially one who was rarely asked to carry a full-time starting workload. Kiser had his moments for Los Angeles and started games at inside linebacker, but injuries and roster turnover limited the length of his Rams tenure. The extra sixth-round pick softened the cost of moving down, yet it did not produce a comparable long-term Rams contributor.
How the Trade Aged
Neither club found a franchise cornerstone, which matters when grading the separation. Los Angeles extracted reasonable draft value by turning one pick into two, while Carolina correctly identified a player who fit its defense and remained useful well beyond a typical rookie contract cycle. Haynes' longevity gives the Panthers an advantage that was not obvious on draft weekend. Kiser's shorter run still prevents the Rams' side from being viewed as empty value.
Final Verdict
Carolina earns a B and Los Angeles a B-. The Panthers paid a sensible premium to target Haynes and received seven seasons of rotational pass-rush value. The Rams made a defensible trade-down and got useful linebacker snaps from Kiser, but the longer and more productive team-specific return came from Haynes. Carolina Panthers Win.