Les Snead has already proven he can navigate Rams post-Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead has his work cut out for him. But if you believe what NFL executives and coaches have to say, the challenges facing his team fall right in his wheelhouse.

When it comes to Los Angeles, the fact that seasoned veterans are growing long in the tooth is not lost among fans. Just the opposite, in fact. While NFL analysts fixate on how the team must find a successor to veteran quarterback Mathew Stafford, fans point out the age of other key starters as well. Right tackle Rob Havenstein needs a rookie to take over, as does tight end Tyler Higbee.

Fear not. Snead is already strategizing the chessboard for 2026 and beyond. And that includes trying to identify Stafford's heir apparent.

In a recent survey of the NFL's best general managers conducted by The Athletic, Snead showed up in a very impressive third place. He only trailed Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman and Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta.

Much of the respect bestowed on Snead in this survey has to do with results.

Execs and coaches love this about Rams' Snead-McVay brain trust

Ironically, the tone of the main points driven home by The Athletic's Jeff Howe is the level of respect he shows for Snead's lack of ego. It's a blend of head coach Sean McVay's vision being fully supported by the front office that keeps this team winning. Remember, NFL analysts called the Horns all but dead after winning Super Bowl LVI and falling to 5-12 the next season.

Instead of wallowing in mediocrity, LA shed highly compensated veterans, restocked through the draft, and returned to the playoffs in 2023. That level of turning the ship around on a dime is not an easy task, or every team would be following suit.

As one NFL executive shared about LA's GM:

"They’re the model of outside-the-box thinking."

Outside the box, indeed. When Los Angeles was shredded by Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley in 2024, McVay understood the urgency to get a stingier run defense. The front office responded, assembling a robust run-stuffing defense by adding nose tackle Poona Ford and inside linebacker Nate Landman.

The results?

Barkley was held to 46 rushing yards the following year, less than half that of its own running back, Kyren Williams. Williams put up 94 rushing yards on 20 carries. Mission accomplished.

The master of the Horns' roster moves simply sees things differently. He views potential rookie prospects who are ideal fits as players who "play Frogger at a faster pace." And it's this unique perspective that allows Snead to find diamonds in the rough far more frequently than other teams.

Williams, wide receiver Puka Nacua, and defensive back Quentin Lake are all having sensational seasons, and all were discovered on Day 3 of the draft.

So, the team's need for a successor for its 37-year-old quarterback is just one more task on the to-do list.

Is time running out to find Stafford's successor? Perhaps, in a conventional sense. But with a front-office guru whose trademark is thinking outside of the box, don't be so hasty. If the plan is to onboard a rookie and have that player observe the veteran hurler for several seasons, that ship has likely sailed. But Snead is quite adept at foraging for talent from the most unlikely of places.

Regardless of how long the former Georgia Bulldog passer remains in the NFL, a succession plan is already in place. Los Angeles has veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett on the roster right now. And Snead is always vetting talent for emergencies. LA has shown proficiency at drafting competent rookies, signing free agents, and trading for game-changing talent.

Stay tuned, as the show is just starting.

As always, thanks for reading.

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