Latest NFL draft invitation adds exciting level of intrigue to Rams Round 1 pick

When it comes to who the Los Angeles Rams will find on the draft board as they step up to the podium with the 26th overall pick, the presumption among many NFL fans has been leaning toward several rookie quarterbacks falling to the team at that spot. That may or may not spell good news for a Rams team that is seeking a rookie quarterback to replenish the ranks for the team's succession at the position.

But there is a growing adversity to seeking that quarterback in Round 1. For a player who will undoubtedly sit behind both veteran quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo (and perhaps reserve quarterback Stetson Bennett) in 2025, a Round 1 pick seems like a significant overpay. And even if the team gets a pleasant surprise from any quarterback in training camp, their ceiling is to replace veteran Stafford if he is injured.

Nobody wants that.

But with the Rams sitting in Round 1 with the 26th overall pick, wouldn't it be wonderful if there is an unexpected run on quarterbacks? In the 2024 NFL Draft, six quarterbacks came off the draft board long before the Rams stepped up to the podium with the 19th overall pick. That run on quarterbacks allowed Florida State outside linebacker, a rookie projected as high as a Top-10 selection, to fall to the Rams at 19.

Rams Round1 QB back on the menu?

The only quarterback projected with any certainty coming off the board in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft is Miami rookie QB prospect Cam Ward, who is the consensus selection of the Tennessee Titans with the first overall pick. But what of Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart, Louisville QB Tyler Shough, Texas QB Quinn Ewers, and Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, all of whom are believed to comprise the Top six rookie quarterback prospects in this year's draft?

Well, the sixth-best quarterback Jalen Milroe per NFL.com has accepted his invitation to attend the 2025 NFL Draft event in Green Bay, Wisconsin. NFL teams typically only encourage invitations to prospects who are quite likely to hear their names called out in Round 1 of the draft.

So how might this impact the Rams Day 1 draft?

The apparent impact is that the Rams could be in play for a quarterback in Round 1. And yes, the Rams did meet with Alabama rookie quarterback prospect Jalen Milroe. Could the Rams be the team that is expected to draft Milroe? Perhaps. While it would be a mild surprise, Milroe is an accomplished dual-threat quarterback who can steal the souls of defenses with his arm and legs. In 2024, Milroe threw 205 of 319 passes for 2,844 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also rushed 168 times for 726 rushing yards and a jaw-dropping 20 rushing touchdowns.

Just to add a bit of background, the Rms met with Milroe, Texas QB Quinn Ewers, and Louisville QB Tyler Shough. Of course, there has been speculation linking Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart to the Rams. And now NFL Insider Dan Orlovsky shares his belief that the both Milroe and Dart will be drafted higher than expected.

But what else could this mean?

Rams 26th pick remains ideal for teams trading back into Round 1 for QB

The strategy of the 2025 NFL Draft is less about a linear sequence of events that usual. For many quarterback-needy NFL teams, they must choose between a plug-and-play rookie prospect or a quarterback who might develop into an NFL starter someday. For those teams, I expect them to choose the immediate gratification option.

Teams understand the NFL Draft process. Unless a team is entirely sold on a rookie quarterback prospect, every NFL GM knows that players like WR/CB Travis Hunter or Edge rush Abdul Carter simply will not remain on the draft board. But QB prospects like Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, or even Jalen Milroe could be acquired late in Round 1 if the team trades back into Round 1.

Even if teams elect to trade back into Round 1 earlier than the 26th overall pick, the scenario favors the Rams' Day 1 options. For every quarterback with a grade less than 6.40 (all are) that is selected before the Rams make their selection, and non-quarterback rookie prospect with a solid grade will fall to the Rams at 26. If QBs Cam Ward, Shedeur Saners, Jaxson Dart, and Jalen Milroe are all selected before the Rams step up to the draft podium, the team is likely to find talented prospects like Arizona WR Tet McMillan, LSU TE Mason Taylor, Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr., and perhaps even Texas CB Jahdae Barron on the board.

But this likely means that the Pittsburgh Steelers, sitting at the 21st overall pick, are inevitably choosing a quarterback in Round 1. Other NFL teams in the QB market may now have to plan to trade back into Round 1 at 20 or sooner.

If the Rams want a quarterback in Round 1, they may be facing some competition. But if the team is willing to draft back in Round 1, offers could come pouring in. Best of all, if teams trade back into Round 1 long before the Rams step up to the podium, the effect will push talented non-quarterbacks to the Rams when they do make their selection.

It's great news on several layers. Let's hope that six quarterbacks hear their names called out in Round 1. While it may not bode well for the team's search for a quarterback, it will almost certainly mean multiple rookie starters will fall to the Rams. And that is the best that Rams fans can hope for.

As always, thanks for reading.

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