Why did the LA Rams need to go after FA QB Baker Mayfield now?

The LA Rams fell to a 3-9 record on the season after losing their sixth straight game to the Seattle Seahawks yesterday by a score of 27-23. LA Rams’ backup quarterback John Wolford started instead of quarterback Bryce Perkins, and even though the Rams took the lead in the final few minutes and had a legitimate chance to win the game, Wolford didn’t have the best game.

Wolford went 14 out of 26 with 178 passing yards and threw two interceptions, including the last one in the final seconds on 4th and 21. Wolford only had a quarterback rating of 22. 4, and if it weren’t for RB Cam Akers’ two touchdowns and the running game, the Rams would not have scored much. Perkins is the other option at quarterback with Stafford being on the IR, and even though most Rams fans would want to see him at quarterback rather than Wolford, Perkins hasn’t been that good either.

Perkins started at QB against the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago, and he went 13 for 23 with 100 passing yards and had a QBR of 27.8 as the Rams lost that one by a lopsided score of 26-10. However, Perkins and Wolford are meant to be backup quarterbacks and don’t give the rams the best chance to win.

Rams claim Mayfield

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield asked for his release Monday morning, and the team granted him that wish. Baker has had a down year this season in Carolina. He has 1,313 passing yards in the season with six passing touchdowns and six interceptions. He has only played in seven games this season due to an ankle injury he suffered early in the season, and discovered that he had lost his starting job to Panthers backup QB PJ Walker and, most recently, to QB Sam Darnold.

The LA Rams claimed Baker Mayfield off waivers to, day as reported by Adam Schefter (below), and he is owed $1.35 million from the Rams for the rest of the season.

Baker is the best veteran quarterback option for the Rams since their starter, QB Mathew Stafford was injured and is now on Injured Reserve for the remainder of the season.

The Rams are not going anywhere this year, but with five more games left to play and four of those scheduled to be stand-alone games starting this week’s Thursday Night Football contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, they want to compete at their best ability. Another way Baker is a help to the team is for the younger guys. For example, having a better QB would show them what they have in some of their young talented receivers like WR TuTu Atwell.

It might have cost the 49ers

Another way picking up Baker helps the Rams is by costing their division rival San Fransico 49ers. The 49ers are in a division Race with the Seattle Seahawks, and yesterday, in their win against the Dolphins, they lost their starting QB Jimmy Garapolo for the year with a broken foot.

San Francisco 49ers backup QB Brock Purdy handled his own with a QBR of 57 and led the 49ers to the win, but Niners’ head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers organization might look to upgrade at the position, and Mayfield might have been the answer to that. Since the Rams picked up Baker earlier today, that could cost the 49ers a significant competitive upgrade at their quarterback position for the rest of the 2022 season.