The Rams trusts the future to untested young players, including Stetson Bennett

QB Stetson Bennett

It's not easy for Rams fans to embrace the idea that as of right now. The future of the team rests on the shoulders of second-year quarterback Stetson Bennett. Whether it rests in his less than optimal size (He stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds), his absence for the entirety of the 2023 regular season, his selection in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft, or simply the lingering vitriol of his winning two consecutive NCAA College Football Championships as the walk-on quarterback for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, the result is the same.

Fans are not warming up to the guy.

But that is not unfamiliar to him. He was not welcomed by Georgia Bulldog fans either. Some didn't trust a walk-on quarterback. Others had the same 'too small to be effective,' perspectives too. But winning make believers out of the most skeptical critics. Two consecutive collegiate championships later, those Bulldog fans are impassioned loyalists.

So, give it time.

Stetson Bennett is not a finished product. But my oh my he is effective. His two-game total in passing yards through preseason was second best in the entire NFL at 437 yards. That outperformed many quarterbacks who had three and even four preseason games.

And that was after a year's hiatus from all football related activities.

You may not fully appreciate Bennett's strengths and weaknesses just yet. But he wins games, and does so in dramatic fourth-quarter comeback fashion. That's a huge plus in a positive direction. And he can improvise. Unlike some quarterbacks of the team's past, Bennett has the ability to extend plays, remain focused downfield, and find his open receiver.

There is a reason why two of the top five NFL preseason receivers played for the LA Rams. WR Xavier Smith hauled in 13 passes (second most) for 101 receiving yards, while WR Jordan Whittington hauled in 11 passes (fourth most) for 128 receiving yards. They don't rack up those many receptions without a fine quarterback under center.

As of right now, only QB Stetson Bennett and Matthew Stafford are under contract for this team beyond 2024. And that is not a random occurrence, mistake, or oversight. The team has positioned Stetson Bennett to be the QB2 for the first two games of the 2024 NFL season, and as of right now, for the entire 2025 season.

The team could add quarterback help next season. But I wouldn't bet the mortgage payment on the team doing so. Particularly if Bennett reclaims his collegiate quarterback forte over the course of the 2024 NFL season.

As always, thanks for reading.