Who did the Rams nearly surrender to the Panthers in 2022 failed trades?

Instead of RB Christian McCaffrey, the Rams got:

The Rams retained their 2023 NFL Draft picks in Rounds 2 and 3, plus a 2024 NFL Draft pick in Round 5. So who did the Rams keep instead:

• 2023 NFL Draft: Round 2 - Interior offensive lineman Steve Avila. While the Rams dangled this draft pick to bolster their running back room, there is no denying that Steve Avila is just what the doctor ordered to put the offense back on track. Before drafting Avila, the Ram's offensive line was a multi-layered quilt of whomever the coaching staff could stitch together. With Avila onboard, the entire team benefited from a renewed offense line that opened up both running lanes as well as repelled pass rushers like rain on a newly-waxed car.
• 2023 NFL Draft: Round 3 - Nose tackle Kobie Turner is another rookie who showed up and delivered in a huge way. He literally tied the quarterback sack numbers of rookie DT Aaron Donald, and is projected to lead a newly invigorated pass rush in 2024. Would the Rams have any hope of success this season without him?
• 2024 NFL Draft: Round 5 - OLB Brennan Jackson may be a rookie prospect at the moment, but the front office certainly seems to be delivering so far. If Jackson is one more in line with that trend, he will prove to be a vital rotational player for the team's pass rush and overall defense in 2024 and beyond.
• RB Cam Akers - While running back Cam Akers did finish off the 2022 NFL season strong, he simply did not deliver in 2023. But have no fear, as Kyren Williams was here. And in the aftermath, Williams was every bit as effective running the football in 2023 as McCaffrey, as a fraction of the cost.

Ultimately, the Rams offense did not get RB Christian McCaffrey. But the team did get a solid feature running back for the immediate future, and did not have to pay either a king's ransom or a king's wages to do so.

Akers, upset at his lack of carries, was traded away to the Minnesota Vikings for nothing at the start of 2023. But in his wake, the offense turned to backup RB Kyren Williams, who showcased an incredible ability to churn out huge gains on the ground in 2023. Would the team have discovered Williams' forte at running for miles behind McCaffrey? That is highly doubtful.

In the end, the Rams ended up at the spot they were aiming for, but simply arrived via an alternative route.