Rams taking QB succession seriously if new hires are a clue to team's 2024 strategy

The LA Rams may be coasting out of their offseason moorings into the open waters of the 2024 NFL season, but it's often the first steps that are the most informative. Like any NFL team, the Rams cannot simply broadcast their intentions to the entire NFL, because quite frankly other teams are in much better position to execute any plans drawn up by the team's front office

If the LA Rams plan to spend big bucks in the 2024 NFL Free Agency market, there are other teams with more money to spend. If the team wants to draft key rookie prospects to fill holes from the 2024 NFL Draft, 18 other teams are making selections from the pool of rookie talent before the 19th overall pick of the draft.

In almost any direction that the Rams wish to take this offseason, part of the strategy must include some form of camouflage, misdirection, subtlety, or covering the team's tracks to prevent other teams from adopting that strategy first. With the proliferation of NFL Rumors, that is indeed a tall task, because everyone seems to have a smartphone, and each smartphone can instantly become a source of videos, social media reports, rumors, or even misinformation, that can reach almost anyone on the planet instantly.

So the goal this offseason is not only to come up with a perfect plan, and to execute that plan, but to ensure that other teams that hold the higher ground for those objectives do not know what the Rams are truly planning to do. Without that level of confirmation or hard data, all we can do for the time being is offer some speculation: Whether or not that speculation comes out of thin air like an imaginary trade scenario, or is rooted in clues that authors and readers can decipher is truly up to the reader.

That being said, here are some clues for one of the LA Rams key objectives this offseason. In my opinion, after flirting with prioritizing the team's backup quarterback position in both 2022 and 2023 by signing an out-of-favor veteran free agent to back up veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, I believe that the Rams are finally ready to make that first step to locking down a solid quarterback succession plan for the 2024 NFL season.

What do I know? Well, here is the evidence that we have so far:

How do coaching hires solve Rams backup QB conundrum?

1. Past success of investing in role
2. 2024 NFL Draft loaded with QB talent
3. Rams new hires have links to FAs and track records of developing QBs
4. Proven track records of optimizing QB performances
5. Links between coaches and free agent QBs
6. Now, here's why it makes complete sense

Past success of investing in role

The team has not been in the habit of investing in recognizable free agent quarterbacks to sit in the quarterback room. In fact, the team has not invest a draft pick into the position either, which is a curious history considering that much of the Rams offense depends almost entirely upon having a capable quarterback under center.

When the Rams roster was hammered with injuries in 2022, the necessity to land a starting quarterback who had some moxy to improvise forced the team to roll out of their lane. That meant that the team was desperate enough to give former 2018 NFL Draft first overall pick Baker Mayfield a shot at running the Rams offense, despite the tarnished reputation he had suffered by failing to win consistently with either the Cleveland Browns or the Carolina Panthers.

He showed no signs of being washed up in the Rams offense, quickly learning the playbook to lead the team just hours after disembarking from the plane that brought him to Los Angeles, California.

While once may have been an anomaly, lightning struck twice for the team when the front office reached an agreement with veteran quarterback Carson Wentz. Similar to Mayfield's situation, Wentz was a highly compensated quarterback who started for the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and finally Washington Commanders, failing to meet expectations despite signing highly compensated contracts with those teams.

And just like Mayfield, Wentz showed up in a huge win for the team in Week 18, halting an ongoing regular season losing streak to the San Francisco 49ers and proving that the right guy in the pocket can be a huge factor in determining the future success of this team.

It appears now that the LA Rams may have concluded that investing into the quarterback room is worth the effort. Now the question is: How will the team address the backup quarterback role for 2024?

2024 NFL Draft loaded with QB talent

There is a growing consensus that as many as five rookie quarterbacks will come off the 2024 NFL Draft board before the team even has a chance to make its Round 1 selection with the 19ther overall pick. But the depth and quality of quarterback talent this year is such that even prospects who remain on the draft board after multiple players are selected may still have NFL starting potential.

Rams fans who have weighed in on the issue of the team's successor to Matthew Stafford express the complete spectrum of support, from vehemently opposed to using any draft pick on a quarterback to the opposite end of insisting that the team must aim for a top quarterback talent in Round 1.

The Rams' situation right now is such that even a rookie chosen in 2024 has a year or two to learn the NFL and the offense before the window opens for him to compete for a true start. As far as draft selection, you do not want to jump on a rookie early in the draft simply because the expectation for a top quarterback is to be allowed to start immediately.

If the team drafts a quarterback, this is a player for 2025 and beyond, not for the 2024 season. Of course, any injury that benches Matthew Stafford changes all of that instantly. But whoever is selected, if selected, has to understand that this could be a multi-year grind. So who might be among the candidates? This next QB assessment is useful in that the analyst does not tout only the top three prospects.

From the above analysis, the options for the team may be Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, or South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler, as both are a bit raw, but could be a starting NFL quarterback with some time playing behind a veteran quarterback.

Rams new hires have links to FAs and track records of developing QBs

What I truly love about the direction that the team is taking in a first step towards the 2024 NFL season is the fact that the team emphasized quarterback development in almost every offensive coach.

While the Rams were a potent offense for much of the 2023 NFL season, the 10-7 record is not screaming to other NFL teams that this is an offense that other teams should cannibalize to start their own football programs in the right direction.

Still, the outbound coaching talent has created the void that was quickly filled on the Rams coaching staff. While there was a solid track record of developing Baker Mayfield and Carson Wentz to succeed in the Rams offense, there is the opposing evidence of the team struggling to develop college prospects into that NFL-caliber pocket presence that competes consistently.

I believe that the organization emphasized quarterback development throughout their offensive coaching hires. Just check out these new coaches, and click on their feature articles. These are accomplished quarterbacks who have been there, done that.

1. John Streicher | Game Management Coordinator | Story Link
2. Dave Ragone | QB Coach | (see link in next line)
3. Nate Scheelhaase | Offensive Assistant, Pass Game Specialist | Story Link
4. Jerry Schuplinski | Senior Offensive Assistant | Story Link

One of the best strengths of the new hires is the opportunity to turn a weakness into a true strength. In 2023, the Rams coaching hires coalesced around the ability to run the football. In 2024, I see the new coaching hires as delivering expertise to working with and developing new quarterback talent this season.

Proven track records of optimizing QB performances

If you are going to invest in either a rookie quarterback or some form of tarnished veteran quarterback, you certainly need a QB coach who can coach up players. That is exactly what the LA Rams appeared to have emphasized with the latest rumored coaching hires.

The LA Rams are not yet at that critical decision point of determining how and when the team plans to hand the starting quarterback baton off to a successor. But even on the track, handing off a baton does not occur to the next runner who is standing still. To be an effective handoff, the next guy in the race is accelerating while the runner is decelerating. The baton is handing off at that perfect intersection point when the next runner's speed matches and might begin to accelerate beyond the original holder.

The Rams organization has that opportunity by addressing the backup quarterback role now to allow the next guy to accelerate in training camp and practice fields naturally. That means that whoever is added to the shortlist of successors for the quarterback role for this team, immediately ready to start is not one of the must-have criteria.

Carson Wentz is the perfect example of how that works for this football team. Because he arrived mid season, he needed time to ramp up to be ready to start at the helm of this offense. He clearly was able to process the role based on the game performance in Week 18. But that would have been a far different experience if he was forced into starting for the team the week that he arrived.

The LA Rams do have the luxury of looking for the next guy from a standpoint of working out short-term, temporary deficiencies and aiming for the highest upside, talent-laden candidates who are effective fits in the offense and culture.

Are the LA Rams truly forced to add a rookie quarterback from the 2024 NFL Draft? Not at all. From a financial standpoint, there are advantages to adding a young college prospect to shape and mold into a great fit for this offense. But there is a risk that an investment may not deliver results, as the Rams are still in the dark as to what they have with former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett.

Links between coaches and free agent QBs

You should always look to the NFL Free Agency market when assessing the positions that the team is likely to target in the draft. If the position is shallow in the draft, that will add market pressure to the free agency demand. But if the position is deep, like the quarterback depth is in the 2024 NFL Draft, then there is very little pressure in the free agency market.

What's worse for NFL free agent quarterbacks is the fact that any team in the market for a new quarterback has plenty of solid free agents to choose from. But of the teams that are truly seeking quarterbacks, only the teams that are shut out of the top five or six quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft will look to the free agency market.

The team's unique situation in 2024 is such that the team can opt to shop in either the draft or the free agency market. So which option makes the most sense?

The history of Rams rumors for new QB coach Dave Ragone and his former Chicago Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky is rather impressive. Trubisky is projected to become a free agent this year. But he is not the only one:

For what it's worth, the Rams can view the opportunity to sign a solid veteran free agent quarterback from the above list, and have links to at least four quarterbacks on the above list, and may have even more connections and legitimate interest beyond that.

Rams have hired Jerry Schuplinski as the team's new Senior Offensive Assistant. Schuplinski has a strong background in developing young quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett when they were all at the New England Patriots. Both Jacoby Brissett (confirmed) and Jimmy Garoppolo (rumored) are expected to become available as free agents this year.

And of course, we cannot ignore the fact that both Carson Wentz and Baker Mayfield are projected free agents as well. The Rams have plenty of options for a successor at the backup quarterback position, and the only limiting factor now is making the money make sense for both sides.

Now, here's why it makes complete sense

The LA Rams shy away from signing free agents, as the addition of those players can negate potential awards of future compensatory draft picks in next year's draft. But for players who have been released from their contracts, there are no offsets to take into consideration. Right now, free agent quarterbacks who have no compensatory draft pick considerations are QB Carson Wentz (the team's free agent QB) and recently cut QB Mitch Trubisky,

I don't see the Rams doing anything in the 2024 NFL Free Agent to jeopardize any future awarded compensatory draft picks. WIth that in mind, the most feasible options for the team to address the backup quarterback role this year falls into three categories:

• Option I - Draft a backup. If the Rams are content to developing a second tier quarterback like South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler or Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa, this could make the most sense.|
• Option II - Go as is. If the team discovers that Stetson Bennett is passionately prepared to return and compete for the role in 2024, this could be an option.
• Option III - Shop the later stage NFL free agency market. I do not see much demand for either Carson Wentz or Mitchell Trubisky in the 2024 offseason.

The Rams investment into coaches who have developed NFL quarterbacks has a two-tier benefit. The most obvious is having a coaching staff that is fully prepared to work with young quarterback from the 2024 NFL Draft.

But how can you overlook the comfort levels of players who succeeded when working with a specific coach, and how that can be a compelling reason for a player to choose to go in the Rams' direction? For that matter, you have to view the hiring of Dave Ragone as the team's new QB coach as a coach who casts the deciding vote.

The LA Rams have more options for the backup quarterback position than many realize, and the team has already prepared to optimize the performance whichever quarterback is added to the roster.

I don't have a great feel for what the team will do, but I am now leaning away from the team chasing a rookie quarterback in Day 1 or 2 in the 2024 NFL Draft. There will be affordable quality quarterbacks in the free agency market after the first wave this year. In short, the Rams may be thin at the quarterback position right now. But just as the team addressed the RB position last year, I think that the team will saturate the quarterback position this year.

Stay tuned, it's starting to get interesting. And as always, thank you for reading.