Not all 2024 Top-10 rookie QBs are too lofty for LA Rams reach

The LA Rams front office has to be very aware of the fact that starting quarterback Matthew Stafford will retire someday, perhaps sooner than expected. While the euphoria over rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett had run red hot after his first preseason game, there may be limits to just how far Bennett can go in the NFL.

Let's not try to shed the sage and seasoned Stafford just yet. For the first time since being traded to the LA Rams, a completely healthy Matthew Stafford threw football to a bunch of no-name receivers and carved up the Seattle Seahawks secondary for 334 yards.

Still, the New York Jets saga over veteran quarterback Aaron Rogers is a cautionary tale. Injuries are a constant threat in the NFL, and just one injury can change the outlook for a team's entire season. Meanwhile, the rather crowded crop of rookie quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft has already resulted in two popular names already committing to returning to NCAA football in 2024: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and Texas QB Quinn Ewards

The Rams, for better or worse, are in the market for a quarterback. The loss in Week 9 to the Green Bay Packers because the team had ignored the backup quarterback drama was a lesson well-learned by the team. That means that despite the lack of interest from Rams fans, the team itself is not above making a play for a rookie quarterback prospect as early as Day 2 in the 2024 NFL Draft. And that is not my speculation, it's simply drawing comments by Rams GM Les Snead out to their logical conclusion:

The thing is that many do not view quarterback as a viable draft option this year, but I do not believe that the team shares that same opinion. The position has long been a nagging burr in the saddle that has derailed plans time and time again. Even former Rams QB Jim Everett sees the writing on the wall this off-season.

So will it be veteran free agent, or draft a rookie? Drafting a rookie has two distinct advantages. First, a rookie can come in and learn the team's offense from the coaching staff, which means that the player will be fundamentally effective in this offensive scheme. The second advantage is that any rookie quarterback will give the team a backup for at least four seasons (pending his outright release) at an incredible bargain price. That is a very tempting to a team that has often struggled to make concessions to get under the annual salary cap.

Which 2024 rookie QB prospect makes most sense for Rams?

1. Re-sign Wentz may not be a viable option
2. Too lofty for Rams taste
3. I - QB Caleb Williams, USC
4. II - QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
5. May be there at 19
6. III - QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
7. IV - QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
8. Day 2 options from PNW?
9. V- QB Bo Nix, Oregon
10. VI - QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington
11. Day 2/3 Tweeners
12. VII - QB Spencer Rattler - South Carolina
13. VIII - QB Michael Pratt - Tulane
14. Great Day 3 value
15. IX - QB Joe Milton, Tennessee
16. X - QB Jordan Travis, Florida State

Re-sign Wentz may not be a viable option

If you mention the LA Rams need for a viable backup quarterback in 2024, inevitably the replies will overwhelmingly turn to the insistence that the team merely extend QB Carson Wentz. But that may not be a viable option. After all, after the 2022 NFL season, many of those same voices insisted that the team merely re-sign veteran QB Baker Mayfield. We know how that played out. What has changed so significantly that the outcome in the 2024 NFL Free Agency market.

If you recall, the LA Rams were not the first choice of Wentz for a new team. It seems that he did not enter into serious negotiations to play for the team until the New York Jets rejected his interest in playing in their offense.

The thing about Carson Wentz, and any free agent emerging from the Rams roster, is that he could be seeking a greater role for 2024. Just as Mayfield before him, Wentz may simply strike while the iron is hot to secure an opportunity to compete for a starting role, or even to sign with a team that is planning to draft a new rookie quarterback, but who wants to have a veteran aboard to handle the early part of the season until that young hurler is ready to start.

The Rams cannot compete with that.

And so, it may come down to which quarterback the team is willing to draft, and when? We know that that many mock drafts project the first two quarterbacks to come off the board are USC QB Caleb Williams and North Carolina QB Drake Maye. But will there be a run on quarterbacks this year like many expect?

In one mock draft simulation, that certainly was not the case. Just see for yourself:

Still, the Rams cannot fall in love with a single rookie quarterback this far from the 2024 NFL Draft. Rather, the best that the team and fans can do is set a hierarchy of what players have enough intrinsic value to be selected by the team, and at which location on the draft board. Let's run down the list of quarterback prospects the team may or may not select this year:

Too lofty for Rams taste

There are plenty of NFL teams who are willing to trade up to acquire one of the top quarterbacks from the 2024 rookie class, but as in all things, caveat emptor. The Carolina Panthers traded up to the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. While there wa no shortage of applause for the Panther's bold strategy, Young's rookie performance was dwarfed by Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud

Not every quarterback lives up to their pre-draft hype. Actually, the odds of hitting on a quarterback in Round 1 simply to become a dependable starter are just 63 percent. Those are pretty lousy odds considering the cost to get to a high enough perch to make a selection of a top quarterback often involves multiple first-round picks just to get there.

I - QB Caleb Williams, USC

I know that USC quarterback Caleb Williams is coming off the board long before the LA Rams make their selection at 19. But after the number of demands and conditions that this not-even-an-NFL-rookie has made, I'm no longer interested in the Rams selecting him at all. This young man has earned over $12 million in endorsement deals in his last year at USC, and that much money cannot help but change a player's perspective toward the game.

This of that much cash as the financial equivalent of the college Heisman Trophy. After earning the honor, there is little incentive to work hard at starting over in the game of professional football. After tasting that much success in college, what is his motivation for the NFL?

II - QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

The other top tier quarterback who has gotten a great deal of positive press is North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. Maye has opted not to throw at Indianapolis, but has committed to throwing at his Pro Day. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 225 pounds, Maye is a big-bodied hurler who can stand tall in the pocket and beat teams with his cannon-powered throwing arm, or who can pull the ball down and beat defenses with his scrambling ability.

Even behind a terrible offensive line, Maye has consistently put up huge numbers. Even with rumors that he might fall in the draft (as wild rumors are prone to surface until draft day arrives), he remains a Top-5 draft prospect who is a consensus second player off the board.

May be there at 19

If the Rams are strongly motivated to pick a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, then all options must be on the table. That should include selecting a quarterback at 19 if the right prospect is there. The question is, who will be there at 19? Will a coveted quarterback fall to the team?

I personally do not believe that the Rams will waver from their 2023 NFL Draft strategy. Even though the effort failed to land them a solid backup quarterback option in 2023, QB Stetson Bennett has not been ruled out for returning in 2024. And the method seemed to make sense with how the season had played out. Were Bennett on the active roster for Week 9, the season may have ended much differently. Still there are two quarterbacks who may or may not be there at 19. As such, we should discuss their fit:

III - QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has been a bit late to the party, but his rapidly rising stock for the 2024 NFL Draft is well earned. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 210 pounds, Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback who can beat teams with his arm and his legs, and many NFL teams will leverage that ability to run with plays designed to get him loose in open spaces. He has the arm to make any and all throws, but his ability to run can limit his patience in the pocket.

Daniels adds a mobile quarterback dimension to an offense but does not sacrifice height or arm strength. Because he is so gifted at fleeing from the pocket, he exhibits less patience from that spot than some plays require. He checks all of the boxes and offers an offensive coordinator a far more expansive set of play options. Still, he is less refined than you might hope from a first-round quarterback. Projected: Top 10

IV - QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is the first polarizing quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. Some draft scouts love him and believe that he is the best quarterback talent-wise of this draft class. Others cite his lack of throws, and observed rawness, as reason enough to tap the brakes on his runaway stock rising. McCarthy stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 202 pounds. While not a featherweight by any means, he will likely be advised to hit the gym and muscle up another 10-15 pounds of armor to withstand the physicality of playing quarterback in the NFL. He played for a strong running team, Michigan, but was able to step up and take over games when necessary.

But that leaves the door open to questions of how will he perform without a strong running game. Can the shortfalls in his collegiate game be easily corrected, and quickly enough to start in the NFL in his rookie season? While he has been touted by NFL scouts, can he make a quick transition to the NFL? Those questions will need to have strong and acceptable answers for any team who selects him. Projection: Late Round 1

Day 2 options from PNW?

The 2024 NFL Draft seems to be loaded with quarterback talent, and your favorite passer among the group may simply be a matter of preference. Isn't it a bit ironic that in the final chapter of the PAC-10 football conference, three of the top-tier hurlers all come from that NCAA football conference?

V- QB Bo Nix, Oregon

It's virtually impossible for me to consider the attributes and talents of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and not associate him with former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. Some NFL boards have Nix as late as Round 3. Others have him as early as late in Round 1. Some even consider Nix a talent who will come off the board before Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

At 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds, Bo Nix is a mobile pocket passer who has shown the ideal improvement as a quarterback year after year. While he can move well, if the pocket breaks down, Nix is able and willing to avoid the pass rush, moving to safer spaces, and continuing to look for receivers as he extends plays. If defenses get pressure on him early, his alarm goes off sooner, and he will bail prematurely. Still, he has a short compact delivery and he can make all of the throws in the play book. Projected: Late Round 1 to early Round 2

VI - QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is one of the strongest throwing arms in the 2024 rookie class. He stands 6-foot-3 and weighs a respectable 213 pounds. Penix is a southpaw, which will force offenses to need to flip their play designs. As such, his blindside is his right offensive tackle, which could also alter the way offenses view him and their playbook. Still, he brings a complete pocket presence and an incredible ability to deliver the ball to the right spot at the right time.

Penix is nearly 24 years old, an age that will cause some NFL teams to steer clear. But I not only do not believe the Rams to shy away from a more mature 2024 rookie prospect, his advanced age may actually be a positive check in their shopping list. He can make rapid progression reads, finds and exploits mismatches, and can extend plays by avoiding the pass rush while continuing to seek an open receiver. He is an ideal understudy for LA Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, and has the same traits, even down to forgetting a bad play and bouncing back with a huge pass. Projection: Late Round 1

Day 2/3 Tweeners

VII - QB Spencer Rattler - South Carolina

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler was on the fence for me until I heard him speak at the NFL Combine. The fact is that any quarterback prospect who cites Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford as the veteran quarterback that he is most focused on emulating is music to my ears. He is viewed as a solid competitor and remains among the Top-10 quarterbacks on most draft boards. Still, he stands 6-foot-0 and weighs 218 pounds, which is a bit undersized compared to his peers.

He's had an incredible book of business at the collegiate football level, starting for the South Carolina Gamecocks for four seasons. And his arm strength, accuracy, and pass distribution is as good as they come. But even with so much work, he is still in need of some refinement. Most notably, he tries to throw off-platform, and fails to get enough oomph on his passes from his back foot. He peaked in 2020, and while still solid seasons, has not quite replicated that stellar performance. Projection: Round 4

VIII - QB Michael Pratt - Tulane

Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt is one of those prospects who comes from a seldom-mentioned college football program and as such slip through the cracks. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 216 pounds, Pratt is a solid size to run an NFL offense. He may not be a quarterback blessed with road-runner-like speed, but he is a gritty and tough hurler who is sharp in the pocket and can take a licking and keep right on ticking.

Pratt may not inspire with his flashy deep ball, but he is savvy with his football craft, using his eyes to draw defensive backs away from the play. He makes good decisions in the pocket and appears to be poised and ready to throw at all times. He truly fits the bill as a draft and stash quarterback. Projection: Round 5

Great Day 3 value

IX - QB Joe Milton, Tennessee

Not everyone is sold on Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton, but he is not expected to come off the board early. As such, developmental prospects can have areas that need to be improved and still be great value for their team. One of the biggest knocks on Milton is his age. But the Rams seemed to gravitate towards those older, more mature prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft with spectacular results.

He is a huge young man, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 235 pounds, so he will be staring even his tall offensive linemen in the eyes. He uses his long reach like a catapult, getting amazing velocity and distance on his throws, which many other quarterbacks simply cannot make. Better still, his release is swift and compact, a fact that will frustrate many pass rushers hoping to bring him down. Miton is a raw prospect who may need to sit a year, and as such not all teams may want to add him to the roster. I believe that the Rams have the luxury of doing so. Projection: Late Day 3

X - QB Jordan Travis, Florida State

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis was one of the early hurlers that we tracked throughout the season. While he did not show enough to rise to a Top-5 prospect, he still holds plenty of promise to be added to a team and developed on the roster throughout the season. And he has a spark of improvisation that Rams fans will appreciate, if not love outright.

A bit smallish by NFL quarterback standards at 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds, Travis combines strong throws with productive runs, pushing defenses to manage two threats whenever he drops back. He can throw on the move, and that adds an even more dangerous element to his game. Unfortunately, his willingness to throw into coverage from overconfidence can be problematic at times. If that happens, he can become a bit gun shy, waiting for a receiver to gain clear separation before the football leaves his hands.Jordan Travis is not a finished product, but he has the potential to become a huge offensive weapon for the right offense. Projection: Day 3