Matthew Stafford is again, however Rams proceed seek for who’s subsequent

Matthew Stafford considerably decreased the Rams’ anxiousness stage final week when he revealed his plans to return subsequent season as their quarterback.

With the reigning NFL MVP again, the Rams can now commit the majority of their offseason focus to closing the hole on the Seahawks, the staff standing of their manner of enjoying for one more Lombardi Trophy.

Among the many greatest wants are an improve at cornerback, a large receiver able to taking the highest of the protection and depth alongside the offensive line.

However whereas Stafford’s return lessens the Rams’ urgency at quarterback, it on no account eliminates it.

The day is quickly approaching once they need to take care of a world that not consists of their 38-year-old gunslinger. Do they need to have a possible inheritor obvious in place when Stafford formally calls it a profession? Or do they wait till afterward to establish his alternative?

It’s basically the distinction between being the Packers, who proactively deliberate for all times with out Aaron Rodgers by drafting Jordan Love three years beforehand, or the Steelers, who’ve run by way of a number of quarterbacks scrambling to switch Ben Roethlisberger.

Sure, the Rams can catch a significant break, because the Chargers did once they drafted Justin Herbert the identical offseason they moved on from Philip Rivers. However the Chargers gained simply 5 video games the earlier season, thus placing themselves in draft vary to pick out Herbert with the sixth general choose.

Barring a significant shock or growth, the Rams will probably be among the many NFL’s finest groups subsequent season, which probably may very well be Stafford’s swan music. If that’s the case, they are going to be effectively out of attain to draft one of many high school prospects, reminiscent of Texas’ Arch Manning, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr or Oregon’s Dante Moore.

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Les Snead and Sean McVay, the Rams’ two soccer leaders, all the time function a step or two forward of everybody else. That would embody their plan to switch Stafford.

If that’s the case, don’t be stunned if they’re aggressive in securing a quarterback whom they’ll pour growth into the following yr or two, with the hope of making as seamless a transition as doable.

That would imply the Rams’ future quarterback may very well be on the roster once they start OTAs.

Listed here are some concepts on how they may go:

The draft

Because of some shrewd maneuvers final April, the Rams maintain two first-round picks within the 2026 draft. Their very own, at No. 29, and the Falcons’ choose at No. 13. That leaves them uniquely positioned to seek out Stafford’s alternative within the draft.

It’s shaping up as a decidedly one-quarterback draft, with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza the undisputed high prospect. The Raiders, although, will undoubtedly use the primary choose general to carry him to Las Vegas.

That doesn’t imply there aren’t different alluring prospects, simply nobody who initiatives as a Day 1 starter.

However then Love, whom the Packers proactively drafted to ultimately substitute Rodgers, and Jalen Hurts, whom the Eagles chosen to take over for Carson Wentz, weren’t thought-about fast starters, both.

Now take a look at them.

Alabama’s Ty Simpson matches the Love and Hurts mode as a prospect with high-level, projectable expertise, however who wants growth time.

He makes lots of sense for the Rams, who can use the following yr or two to speculate high quality teaching and time into him whereas he learns behind Stafford.

Sure, the Rams would take a danger utilizing their choose at No. 13 to pick out him. However that danger is mitigated with their second choose within the first spherical and Snead’s historical past of discovering loads of worth past the primary day of the draft.

One other QB to observe is Penn State’s Drew Allar. He was thought-about a possible first-round choose final yr earlier than opting to return to the Nittany Lions, then struggled in 2025 earlier than struggling a season-ending knee harm. His inventory took a significant fall consequently.

It will be simple to dismiss Allar as a prospect based mostly on final season, however that will be a mistake. At 6-foot-5, he’s bought a cannon arm, athletic capacity, smarts and toughness. The whole lot is in place to excel on the subsequent stage.

Allar is projected to be a Day 2 choose, probably within the second spherical. Relying on how he checks and interviews throughout the analysis course of — he’s been invited to the NFL scouting mix — the Rams can’t rule out utilizing the second of their first-round picks to beat others to the punch.

Different draft potentialities are Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Carson Beck (Miami), Taylen Inexperienced (Arkansas) and Cade Klubnik (Clemson).

Veteran free company or commerce

It’s a moot level — no less than for now — however had Stafford retired, it will have shocked nobody if the Rams instantly turned to the Bengals with a Godfather commerce supply for Joe Burrow.

Don’t rule out that situation for subsequent yr, although. Burrow is already displaying indicators of frustration and will pressure the Bengals’ hand. The Rams wouldn’t hesitate to behave if that occurs.

So far as this offseason’s free company and commerce markets, the Packers’ Malik Willis makes some sense. He performed effectively in reduction of Love final season, and his expertise working in Matt LaFleur’s system makes for a simple transition to McVay and the Rams.

However you work Willis desires to go someplace the place the prospect for fast enjoying time is in place. With J.J. McCarthy struggling together with his play and accidents final yr, the Vikings make some sense. So do the Jets and probably the Cardinals, relying on what Arizona does with Kyler Murray.

An under-the-radar risk is the Colts’ Anthony Richardson, whose growth has been severely stunted by a rash of accidents. Richardson is extraordinarily uncooked, however his ability set is thru the roof. The Rams might spend one to 2 years growing him behind the scenes with the concept of constructing the best quarterback to switch Stafford.