ICYMI, 5 significant LA Rams FA adds who the team should bring back

Free Agent II: Quarterback

The LA Rams free agency signing of QB Baker Mayfield is no less impressive than the signing of defensive back Darious Williams from the Baltimore Ravens waiver wire. Perhaps moreso, because Williams had weeks of practice before being drafted into service on the Rams’ secondary. Mayfield got off the plane, was handed the offensive playbook, and hours later was on the football field leading the Rams offense to a most-unlikely two-touchdown come-from-behind victory.

It’s so easy to get swept up in the Mayfield Miracle hysteria. But on the other hand, it’s a bit disingenuous to discount just how impressive Baker Mayfield has been with the Rams so far. So let’s try to give an objective assessment.

One hand in my pocket and the other one giving a high five

The LA Rams roster is definitely in need of a viable game-worthy backup quarterback. It’s obvious that the health of starting quarterback Matthew Stafford is by no means a certainty. That means, if the Rams are to take advantage of whatever NFL Playoffs window is believed to be open to this team now, the Rams will need to ensure that they have a backup quarterback who is nearly as dangerous as Stafford.

There have been a number of protests and arguments against Baker Mayfield’s potential, but nearly all of them have a basis in what Baker Mayfield did earlier in his career on other teams. We know that Matthew Stafford had never won a playoff game in his career before playing for the Rams. He has never lost a playoff game since joining the Rams. So if the argument is that Baker Mayfield can’t excel because he didn’t excel for the Cleveland Browns or the Carolina Panthers, I don’t believe that is a valid argument.

The guy has been playing very well, behind a makeshift offensive line, and throwing to no better than WR3 or WR4s during the game. And yet, the Rams are 2-1 with him under center. Let’s be brutally honest with ourselves. Can the Rams expect better from any other quarterback who is content to play a backup role? If not, then the Rams would be wise to pursue extending Mayfield.