Les Snead is in no rush to fill Rams quarterback room quickly, and here's why

The Los Angeles Rams should have an obvious urgency to fill their quarterback room. Despite veteran Matthew Stafford's MVP season, both he and backup quarterback Stetson Bennett are under contract through the end of 2026. After that? The team has nobody on the roster. And that's a bit concerning.

The team is expected to re-sign veteran backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but that has not happened yet. Meanwhile, the rumors of multiple veteran quarterbacks being traded to Los Angeles are only multiplying. And then there are the NFL draft rumors linking rookie quarterbacks to LA. What should fans make of all this conflicting information?

Simply stated, not much.

At a time when multiple paths may be simultaneously true, general manager Les Snead has a complicated task ahead. He must weigh out a myriad of options to discern the best course of action for the team in 2026 and beyond. While fans may have already decided what they would do, Snead is far too clever to act hastily.

And his patience to measure twice and cut once is what may be frustrating fans

Why aren't Rams rushing to secure that quarterback position yet?

What could possibly be the hold-up to re-signing the backup quarterback? Ah, the challenge is that Snead may need to bring Jimmy G back, but he doesn't have a firm handle on the duration of that contract. What does that mean?

Jimmy Garoppolo contract terms are in flux

Los Angeles loves Jimmy Garoppolo, and every indication suggests he loves LA. But it's not enough to want to be in the NFL. Consider Jimmy G's next contract as a pre-nup. Legally binding contracts are not whipped out willy-nilly. The team and player have every reason to negotiate a favorable contract, but for how long and how much?

If Stafford wants to remain in the NFL beyond 2026, Garoppolo would be a backup then. But if Stafford retires, is Garoppolo the next starter? That's a huge variable.

Until the team gets a handle on what the terms of the next contract may be, it will remain in the queue.

Kirk Cousins rumors complicate the situation

As if fans did not have enough rumors linking LA to any veteran quarterback seeking a restart to their careers, here we go again. Now, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is rumored to be a fit for Los Angeles. Layer that on the pile, because several veteran options are up for grabs. Is it time to make a change at the backup position?

Rams have a huge draft ahead

While the 2026 NFL Draft is not expected to swell the ranks of NFL teams at the quarterback position. LA holds the 13th overall pick. It's unlikely that this team will have as early a pick. But if the team has no viable targets on the board, what happens? It may be that Los Angeles would be tempted to trade out of the draft for a 2027 draft pick in Round 1.

Many draft analysts love the options at quarterback in 2027. The thing is, selecting a rookie in 2027 could be a difficult path to preparing him for the NFL. Is it better to add a rookie in 2026 to learn from Matthew Stafford, or to wait for a more popular prospect in 2027 who may need to learn the role on the job?

It's frustrating, but this is a time when patience truly pays off. LA needs to get it right, which requires a deliberate and purposeful strategy. Jimmy Garoppolo is a solid backup quarterback. Do better options await LA this year?

We may soon find out.

As always, thanks for reading.