Rams QB future suddenly in spotlight after NFL insider lets secret slip

One of the NFL analysts most plugged into the behind-the-scenes action of the Los Angeles Rams is ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky. He wasn’t handed that distinction — he earned it through logical, concise assessments of his former team that have proven accurate more often than not. So whenever he dares to speculate about the Rams’ future, smart fans sit up and take notice.

And there is plenty of room to speculate and ponder over the Rams' current status.

This is a team that has restocked the roster on the fly. After a brutal 5-12 finish in 2022, the Rams immediately began refurbishing from the ground up while keeping a trio of weight-bearing veterans from their Super Bowl LVI-winning squad: DT Aaron Donald, WR Cooper Kupp, and QB Matthew Stafford. Donald has since retired. Kupp was released. Now, Stafford stands alone. The question is, how much longer will he play?

Dan Orlovsky expects 2025 to be Matthew Stafford's last NFL season

On a recent episode of the Pat McAfee Show, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport discussed the future of the 37-year-old signal-caller in Horns with fellow insider Dan Orlovsky. From their exchange, it was clear that Orlovsky had been plugged in as the Stafford saga unfolded. But the conversation wasn’t about looking back; it was focused on what comes next.

The ESPN analyst speculates that if the Rams had reached and won Super Bowl LIX, Stafford would have given much more thought to retiring. Instead, after being sent home by the Philadelphia Eagles in a closely contested Divisional Round, he’s back for one more shot at adding another Super Bowl ring to his career.

Sound far-fetched? You have every reason to doubt that assertion. If anyone within the organization truly believed this would be the 17-year veteran’s final season, they didn’t act like it. Instead, the front office simply hit the mulligan button, bringing back veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo to reunite with Stafford and Stetson Bennett.

If the team had any hopes of mentoring a rookie quarterback, that’s a lost cause in this developing scenario. And if this does prove true, the front office will be forced to draft a quarterback in 2026, regardless of the overall talent level or depth of next year’s rookie class.

Many fans expect the team to invest in a signal-caller in the next draft. Realistically, that strategy depends on the overall talent and depth of the players who declare. The placement of the Rams’ two first-round picks will also play a major role in whether drafting an heir is even feasible.

Even if conversations have taken place, nothing is settled. Still, this narrative won’t disappear anytime soon. As the season unfolds, it’s bound to resurface after a bad performance or anytime the quarterback gets shaken up. It’s a long year, just one more worry for fans to keep on the radar. As always, thanks for reading.

More Los Angeles Rams news and analysis