Rams could be setting up an improbable succession plan for Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford is 37 years old, and entering his 17th NFL season. Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback has dealt with numerous injuries in his career, and is currently sidelined at training camp with back soreness. While the Rams expect the two-time Pro Bowler to be ready for another elite season, it’s no secret that he’s near the end of his career. Soon, Los Angeles will have to find his replacement as they hope to remain a contender.

Turns out, the Rams may already be preparing for a post Stafford life. L.A. didn’t take a quarterback in this year’s draft, and the team doesn’t have a quarterback on the roster who is viewed as the successor for the QB1 spot. However, there’s a belief that the Rams could be eyeing a massive move to land their quarterback of the future.

Senior reporter Charles Robinson, in a recent piece for Yahoo Sports, detailed a possible Matthew Stafford succession plan centered around college quarterback Arch Manning. Manning, of the famous football family, is entering his junior year at Texas, and his first season as the full-time starter. Despite his limited experience in college, everyone is expecting a special season that would set him up to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft. According to Robinson, the Rams would like to get in on the Manning sweepstakes.

Arch Manning named as a potential target for the Rams

Robinson notes that Rams’ general manager Les Snead’s stepson is close friends with Arch. Additionally, the general manager was spotted talking with Manning at Texas’ Pro Day this year. Beyond that, Robinson reports that Los Angeles views the Texas quarterback is currently the only Tier 1 QB eligible to be drafted in 2026. The reporter went on to detail how the Rams think highly of the latest Manning quarterback, and how they would even draft him if Stafford returns for the 2026 season.

"Speaking to a handful of Rams personnel sources, Manning is — at this moment — considered by the staff to be the lone Tier 1 quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, regardless of who else could enter into the selection process. Why? The Rams covet Manning’s prototypical size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) and throwing acumen … but also believe his high level of athleticism sets him apart from from every other college quarterback. So much so, the comparison for Manning inside the franchise is that his ceiling after the 2025 college season could be a Josh Allen-type of prospect who is actually stronger physically and a faster athlete than Allen was when he entered the draft in 2018."

Charles Robinson (Yahoo Sports)

While this could all be true, there’s still the matter of actually landing Manning, and that could be challenging for the Rams. For starters, there’s no guarantee he even enters the draft next year. While he will be eligible to, he’ll only have one season as a starter under his belt. Who’s to say he won’t be advised to stay in college and get more experience?

Even if he does enter the draft in 2026, if he’s everything people expect him to be, he’ll be the No. 1 overall pick. The Rams don’t have a team that’s going to finish with the worst record in football. While Los Angeles does possess two first-round picks in 2026, a possible trade up will still be tough, because about half of the league will be trying to get in a position to select Manning.

So while it would be great if Matthew Stafford could hand the baton to Arch Manning, it seems nearly impossible, and like a plan that will only work in dreams.

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