Why LA Rams signing of Carson Wentz could be turning point for team

The LA Rams have been noticeably negligent in their succession plan, at least in terms of the quarterback position. From 2017 through 2020, the Rams have placed all their eggs into the basket of former quarterback Jared Goff. From 2021 through 2023, the Rams have placed all their eggs into the basket of current veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. In terms of the backup quarterback position? The Rams have rostered Blake Bortles, John Wolford, Brycen Perkins, and now Brett Rypien.

While those backups were adequate to run the team's scouting offense, there was never an expectation that the Rams, if forced to start their backup quarterback, could win a game on the strength of that quarterback. The hope of success in any quarterback-injury scenario was placed in the defense and the offensive play-calling.

But there seems to be a new wind blowing for the LA Rams roster, at least in terms of the direction going forward. The LA Rams have abandoned their past practice of stocking unknown quarterbacks on the roster. The Rams are now rumored to be signing veteran quarterback Carson Wentz:

And with this signing, the Rams may finally be 'getting' it.

Tamper 2023 expectations

Before we go down the path of how the LA Rams signing veteran quarterback Carson Wentz to the roster may signify a change of the LA Rams overall strategy, and could mean better things to come for the success-depleted Rams fans, let's be sure to set realistic expectations for the team.

There is no mirage, facade, or dweomer about this signing. Quarterback Carson Wentz, if signed, is merely a backup quarterback on the Rams roster who will not see action after the BYE. The LA Rams are already quite confident that starting quarterback Matthew Stafford will be ready to start in Week 11 when the LA Rams host the Seattle Seahawks.

So if the Rams are not planning to give Carson Wentz a shot at playing out of the BYE, then what is the point? Well, the LA Rams signing of Wentz indicates that the Rams are no longer content to be a team with a starting quarterback and 'all others' going forward. In fact, the Rams decision to reset their roster demands that the team have some level of NFL competency at the quarterback position in each game.

Think back to how electrifying the Rams offense became with veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield under center. Mayfield never threw for more than 230 yards in any game. But he did throw for four touchdowns for the Rams, and led the Rams to two wins out of five games. That experience proved to the Rams organization that a competent backup quarterback is vital for the team.

Why LA Rams signing of Carson Wentz could be turning point for team

1. III: Wentz gives Rams a bonafide NFL QB behind Stafford
2. II: Rams 2024 NFL Draft shopping list changes dramatically
3. I: Rams get five years younger at QB

III: Wentz gives Rams a bonafide NFL QB behind Stafford

As soon as the LA Rams placed rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett on the IR/NFI list, the Rams roster has a glaringly obvious hole in the roster behind starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams were content to go with just two quarterbacks, but soon discovered the flaw in that strategy when Stafford injured the thumb of his throwing hand.

I don't mean to disparage veteran backup quarterback Brett Rypien, but he had a limited number of appearances in his NFL career, had never thrown for more than 225 yards in any one game, and had never thrown for more than one touchdown in a game. Career-wise, Rypien has completed 98 of 168 passes for 960 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Nothing about his NFL career screams "I can win." in the NFL.

Carson Wentz can win in the NFL

The soon-to-be addition to the Rams roster may not be everyone's cup of tea. But he can win NFL games on the strength of his throwing arm. Over the course of his seven-year NFL career with three different NFL teams, Wentz has engineered 11 fourth-quarter comebacks and 12 game winning drives.

Wentz has 92 career starts over the course of his NFL career. He has completed 2056 of 3284 passes for 22,129 yards, 151 touchdowns and 66 interceptions. Regardless of where his NFL career stands right now, when he was drafted in 2016, he was considered to be in a virtual tie with former Rams quarterback Jared Goff in terms of NFL potential. Right now, Goff has the Detroit Lions rolling right along with a record of 6-2, and completing 200 of 293 passes for 2,174 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions. If you recall, many Rams fans lobbied hard for the Rams to get rid of Goff outright. It appears that the most vocal of fans are not always savvy in terms of assessing the quality of players.

Wentz has been a player whose value has taken a huge hit of late. A five-year starter for the LA Rams, Wentz has subsequently had one-year stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders. Still, even in his past two seasons with two different NFL teams, Wentz has completed 494 of 792 passes (62.4 percent completion rate) for 5,318 yards, 38 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions.

Those numbers are nothing to sneeze at.

II: Rams 2024 NFL Draft shopping list changes dramatically

While the Rams have needs all over the roster, and need plenty of help in the 2024 NFL Draft, the outstanding position of need for the Rams roster as currently constructed in my opinion was the quarterback position, until today. The LA Rams roster has been sorely lacking at the backup quarterback spot, with the exception of five games from veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield.

It was the Rams' positive experience with Mayfield that may have prompted them to roll the dice on two-time NCAA Championship Georgia quarterback, Stetson Bennett. But Bennett did not survive the preseason, showing signs of deep regression before becoming inactive for Week 1. Ultimately, the Rams placed Bennett on the IR/NFI list under mysterious circumstances.

But after move Bennett off the team's active roster, the front office did not make a corresponding move to refill Bennett's role on the Rams roster.

Rams do not 'need' a backup QB if Wentz works out

With a shroud of uncertainty surrounding Stetson Bennett, and the Rams relying upon Brett Rypien to backup Matthew Stafford, the Rams were almost certain to draft a backup quarterback in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. While the 2024 NFL Draft is bursting with talented quarterbacks, the Rams and all NFL teams have plenty of talented prospects to choose from.

That is not to say that the Rams will not select a talented quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. My guess is that the team will still be shopping for a talented and developmental quarterback in the draft. But if Wentz works out, and I believe that he could, the Rams can opt for a franchise left tackle, or a shutdown corner, or a game-changing tight end, with their Round 1 pick.

Even if you did not place quarterback as one of the Rams top needs in the 2024 NFL Draft, this signing gives the Rams a bit of breathing room. Wentz may or may not work out for the Rams. But the presence of Carson Wentz on the Rams roster not only gives the Rams front office more wiggle room heading into next year's draft, but if Wentz plays and plays well, he could trigger an award of an NFL compensatory pick for the 2025 NFL Draft.

I: Rams get five years younger at QB

When the Rams traded quarterback Jared Goff and multiple picks to the Detroit Lions for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, the consensus of NFL fans, pundits, and analysts was that Goff benefitted from miraculous offensive strategy of LA Rams head coach Sean McVay. And in the first year of working with Stafford, resulting in a win in Super Bowl LVI, it seemed to be true.

But since winning that Super Bowl, Stafford and the Rams have struggled while Goff and the Lions have ascended to the best team in the NFC North Division. Except for part-time quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Rams have been less than inspiring over the past two seasons. Of course, the Rams did enjoy the Mayfield Miracle against the Las Vegas Raiders, and a throttling of the Denver Broncos.

So what is the problem? Well, we can no longer gloss over the fact that veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is the oldest active quarterback in the NFL right now. Unless you are committed to running a Fantasy Football team, that fact should matter to Rams fans.

Why is age significant at NFL quarterback?

The challenge for any NFL player as they get older is not simply that the player loses a step. The real handicap is the fact that injuries that occur tend to be more severe as a player ages, and the time needed to heal gets longer and longer.

With Matthew Stafford's latest thumb injury, part of the challenge of assessing the extent of the injured thumb was the presence of scar tissue from a previous injury on the site. That is just one injury. If you have followed Stafford's career, you know that he has plenty of wear and tear on his body. So with each quarterback sack, quarterback hit, or even quarterback pressure, the chances of injury increase.

By signing quarterback Carson Wentz, the Rams set the calendar back five years. That is not to say that the Rams will get prime-time Matthew Stafford quality of play from Carson Wentz. It is not even my assertion that the Rams will get prime-time Carson Wentz out of the quarterback position. The Rams roster simply can and should expect a competent backup who does not place the Rams into a must-run and must-defend situation.

I'm not saying that the Rams win with Wentz. But the LA Rams have a much better chance of winning with Wentz as the backup quarterback than any other quarterback this season. If it works out, the Rams have an option to retain Wentz for the foreseeable future. If it doesn't work out? The Rams are no worse off.

I believe that the Rams front office made the right strategic move by signing Wentz. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section of our Facebook page.