Would the Rams consider taking a quarterback in the first round?
One of the bigger questions of the NFL Draft for the Los Angeles Rams will be whether or not they are a team that selects a quarterback. It’s an even bigger question whether or not that player comes in the first round. While the Rams are committed to Matthew Stafford, that commitment is not long term. Both sides came to an agreement for 2025 and will once again go to the table in 2026.
At some point, the Rams will need to think about life after Stafford. Jimmy Garoppolo was signed as a backup and could be a bridge quarterback if needed. Still, the Rams need to get a younger player in the building and it’s become clear that player is likely not Stetson Bennett.
This isn’t to say that the Rams need to force the issue. Taking a quarterback for the sake of taking a quarterback pins them into a corner. That’s not a place you want to be when considering the future of the most important position on the field. With that said, if there is a player that the Rams like, having them sit for a year as the third quarterback behind Garoppolo and then as the backup in 2026, that’s not a bad plan either.
The issue is, if the Rams do that after the first round, that’s two years gone and half of the rookie contract which has become so beneficial when it comes to quarterbacks. If the Rams plan to draft a quarterback and have them sit for a year or two, taking that player in the first round in order to have that fifth-year option is extremely beneficial.
Recently, a panel of ESPN Draft experts were asked which sleeper team is your favorite to watch for targeting a quarterback in the first two rounds. Field Yates listed the Rams as his team to watch. Said Yates,
“On one hand, Matthew Stafford is still playing at a very high level at 37, and the Rams don’t currently have a second-round pick. On the other, Stafford’s relationship with the organization is year-to-year at this point after his contract restructure, and it would be logical for Los Angeles to at least consider a quarterback somewhere on Day 2. Louisville’s Tyler Shough has similar traits to Stafford; he can throw from a variety of different angles and hit tight windows.”
The Rams obviously don’t have a second round pick currently. If they do take a quarterback within the first two rounds, it would be at 26 or in the potential event of a trade back. However, as mentioned, if that player is going to sit for two years, it’s much more beneficial to take a quarterback in the first round.
With that said, this isn’t a great quarterback class. Unless a player like Shedeur Sanders falls, there may not be a quarterback worth taking. Jaxson Dart is an option, but he has some issues with processing and dealing with pressure. Dart in the first round would also be a huge reach. Tyler Shough is another player to consider, but he’ll be 26 going into next season. One of the better fits for the Rams may be Kyle McCord out of Syracuse, but he’s probably better fit as a high-end backup than a long-term replacement and should be available early on day three.
It’s also worth noting that general manager Les Snead didn’t sound all that impressed with this crop of quarterbacks at the top. Said Snead on the Pat McAfee show,
“It doesn’t seem like this year there’s going to be seven QBs that go before pick 19 so that is going to be – for the first time in a while, how many QBs actually go in the first round? How many go before pick 15? It’s going to be the first year where, hey, it might be the least amount of QBs picked in the first round in a long time.”
That’s either a huge smoke screen and Snead is trying to downplay the position or he’s just not that interested. The most likely option of those two is the latter.
As much as the Rams may need an heir to Matthew Stafford, it’s hard to see them finding that player or investing highly in that player in this draft. This is a Rams team that has started to make a few “all-in” type moves and are looking to compete for a championship this season. With a first round pick for just the second time since 2016, the Rams would be better off taking a player that can contribute in the immediate rather than a third-string quarterback.
It will still be interesting to see if the Rams do draft a quarterback to replace Stetson Bennett. However, it is unlikely that player comes in the first round.
