4 affordable free-agent targets for LA Rams this offseason

III: Backup quarterback

The LA Rams offense is built to optimize the talents of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. Thankfully, those talents are nearly limitless, as Stafford continues to excel at the position even as he enters his 16th NFL season. But it's that very fact that the Rams 36-year-old quarterback is entering his 16th NFL season that has created some concerns in the Rams organization.

After all, who is backing up Stafford?

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah took a stab at mix and matching some of the free agent quarterbacks entering the 2024 NFL Free Agent market with the most likely landing spot, and considers the Rams to be the most likely landing spot for FA QB Drew Lock:

While Drew Lock may not turn heads, he is a veteran quarterback who has played (and started) for the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks. And while the cost of any quality backup quarterback can be a great investment, Lock's 2023 salary of $3.5 million places him in the affordable category for the LA Rams roster for 2024.

Lock was drafted by the Denver Broncos in Round 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft but has struggled to find the right offensive fit. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 228 pounds, so he has the power and durability that you hope for in an NFL quarterback. While he is just emerging from his rookie contract, his career completion rate of 59.7 percent has been dulled by a lull in 2020. He completed 63.2 percent of his passes in 2023 and earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 61.3 last year.

While a traditional pocket passer, Lock has enough mobility to evade the pass rush and extend plays.

Lock can throw the long ball, once completing a 92-yard pass in 2020. He has also engineered four game-winning drives in his career as well. The flaw with Drew Lock is the fact that his touchdown to interceptions ratio is nearly 1:1. I believe that the LA Rams coaching staff can improve that ratio dramatically.

While not a future franchise quarterback, he is a solid QB2 option and great value right now. If he does pan out, the Rams could be due an awarded compensatory pick as well.

Estimated salary cost: $1.9 million