Did Rams miss an opportunity to add perfect successor for Matthew Stafford?

Were Colts in the mood to deal QB Anthony Richardson?

There are multiple ways to add a promising young quarterback to the roster, and the Rams front office has exercised several of those avenues. One route is simply to sign a free-agent QB. That is the least risky method and yet is the most expensive route. The Rams typically shop for tarnished hurlers, those who are out of favor. But as soon as they are polished by the Rams offense, off they go to sign for more money elsewhere.

There is always a dice role in an NFL Draft. Selecting a quarterback from among so many rookie hopefuls is the best way to land an affordable rookie prospect. But it's the riskiest venture as well. Nobody knows how poorly or superbly a quarterback will compete in the NFL. For every Texans QB C.J. Stroud or Commanders WB Jayden Daniels, there is a Panthers QB Bryce Young or Colts QB Anthony Richardson.

They all had glowingly positive draft profiles. They all had the same or nearly the same price tag. And yet, some go on to lead their respective teams to surprising success, while others seem to sink their teams even further into the dark hole of desperation and disappointment.

The third way is the least frequent route. But it involves a team trading for a young prospect who has struggled to find his footing in the NFL. One such disappointing quarterback who was recently benched is Indianapolis Colts young quarterback Anthony Richardson.

And almost instantly, other NFL teams began to hover over the Colts, like buzzards circling over a wounded animal, to try to pry him from their roster.

Did the Rams inquire? Should the Rams have been fervent trade suitors? Why we may never know the right option, it certainly was a rare option for the Rams.

The Indianapolis Colts selected former Florida QB Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Even then, NFL GMs and draft scouts agreed that Richardson was the least polished of any quarterback in that group of top-tier rookies. But they also all agreed that he had the highest ceiling of the lot.

But the Colts found surprising success in 2024, the ilk that shattered their patience and demanded a win-now response from their roster. And Anthony Richardson was still too green to handle the pressure.

Was there a window to package veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo and some Day 2 or 3 draft picks to satisfy the Colts enough to negotiate a deal? Does that type of trade leave enough value on the table for both teams to feel good about it? I think there was/is some narrow path that could have left both teams feeling good about their chances.

But no trade occurred.