In one move, the Rams just secretly skyrocketed Stetson Bennet's stock

When the Los Angeles Rams selected Georgia rookie quarterback prospect Stetson Bennett in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft, the move was met with a cool reception by fans. Bennett was not on anyone's radar and was not highly regarded, despite gutsy performances that landed two consecutive College Football Championships for the Georgia Bulldogs. But Rams GM Les Snead, who has a penchant for seeing young NFL hopefuls in an NFL setting, saw something more in Bennett than any other NFL GM.

He saw Bennett as the ideal young quarterback needed by the Rams.

The Rams' rookie quarterback showed promise throughout his rookie training camp and even showed up well in his first NFL preseason game. But he was not prepared for the Rams' practice of benching players who earn a roster spot, and the dwindling amount of talent that surrounded him as the preseason wore on impacted him in an unexpected way. He regressed with each game. By the start of the season, Bennett was benched with a throwing shoulder injury. He would not return to the team until the following season.

The story may have ended there, but for two reasons. Stetson Bennett is incredibly competitive, and when he came back to the team in 2024, he was willing to hold nothing back. Perhaps the more important factor in Bennett's return is that the Rams welcomed him back with open arms. There was still the matter of earning a spot on the roster that Bennett had to accomplish. But ultimately, Bennett was able to do that.

For fans, it was a bit more complicated.

The signs are there

Despite not participating in any football throughout the 2023 NFL season, Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett was able to lead all NFL competitors in passing yards through two preseason games, and he ended the preseason as the second-most proficient passer. Despite throwing five interceptions in two games, he also managed to throw two game-winning touchdowns.

Best of all, he showcased the talents of young NFL receivers like rookie WR Jordan Whittington and Xavier Smith. Bennett played so well that the team benched him for the third preseason game, sending out Dresser Winn to start the final preseason contest.

Bennett sat throughout the 2024 NFL season, but this time it was on the bench and not at home on his sofa. That allowed the Rams coaching staff to remain engaged with the quarterback, giving him pointers and feedback to aid in his NFL development. Still, he was the third quarterback on a very talented Rams depth chart.

But this was a far different setup than what he faced in 2023. The Rams had changed as well. In 2024, the team set up the coaching staff to develop young quarterbacks to the NFL level. And the player who was in a position to benefit from every bit of the coaching upgrade was Bennett.

Bennett's stock is skyrocketing and here's why

So far, it appears as though it's had a very positive impact. After all, while some will judge this as Stetson Bennett's third NFL season, it's only his second season of continuous NFL coaching. And the early indications are that he is in better shape and form than ever:

The Rams have had every opportunity to add direct competition to the roster. The Rams not only did not draft a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, but made no effort to add a fourth arm to the roster. Well, not until the team reportedly signed 2024 reserve quarterback Dresser Winn. That signing was not well received by fans, mainly because everyone believed that UFL MVP QB Bryce Perkins, who was also a former Rams quarterback, was the most logical option.

And fans may have been correct.

But fans have not seen the 2025 version of Stetson Bennett that coaches and the front office have seen. To fans, every roster spot is up for grabs. But to the team, Bennett likely is already inked in as the team's QB3, and competition for that role is already over before it started. Dresser Winn is familiar with the way this team runs training camp and will be a solid addition for that. But the team does not appear to be looking for more.

This team knows and understands that they must be just as prepared to fill in the starting QB role if Matthew Stafford opts to retire. And the team was reminded of that fact with the news from veteran QB Aaron Rodgers declaring that he will retire after the 2025 NFL season. The Rams have veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo on a one-year deal, and then Stetson Bennett.

I'm not asserting that Stetson Bennett will take over for the Rams when Matthew Stafford retires, but he is the frontrunner for the role as it now stands. As soon as the team signs Dresser Winn to the roster, Bennett's stock with the team skyrockets. The fans may not believe that Stetson Bennett has any chance of running this offense. But it appears more and more likely that the team does.

As always, thanks for reading.

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