Rams Les Snead has no other option but to to address this position in the draft

Out of sight, out of mind. But as much as some fans of the Los Angeles Rams scoff at the idea, the time to debate the succession plan for the quarterback position is past. While it did not strike everyone, Los Angeles narrowly dodged disaster in 2025. Not only did this team leave the door to trading starting quarterback Matthew Stafford open, but he also nearly failed to suit up with a back injury that benched him throughout training camp.

He was medically cleared days before the season started.

Fans have every right to ignore those inconvenient events. But as general manager of the LA Rams, Les Snead cannot. The 2025 NFL season was successful, but only by the width of a thread. And for a team that wants to compete in 2026, those narrow misses have to be addressed more effectively.

When in the pocket, Matthew Stafford is a cerebral NFL assassin. But LA's offense withers from a tiger to a paper tiger if he is unable to suit up. While LA's history has been positive with plug-and-play alternatives, the offense had to reconfigure to suit the new quarterback. Over the long haul, a limited playbook and defensive deciphering steal any offensive advantage.

2026 NFL Draft is perfectly set up for Rams Les Snead

In the 2023 NFL Draft, Les Snead tapped defensive players in Round 3. Neither nose tackle Kobie Turner nor edge rusher Byron Young was viewed as NFL-ready. Turner was viewed as too small to hold up, and Young was simply too old. How did that work out?

In a vacuum, NFL draft analysts do outstanding work at assessing the potential of rookie prospects. But it's never in a vacuum. Rookie success depends heavily upon their coaches, their teammates, their work ethic, and their passion for the sport

The LA Rams intend to be the best team in the NFC. That achievement does not bode well for significant contributions from rookies. So, this year's draft is likely to be similar to last year's, focusing on foundational players rather than plug-and-play starters.

Theoretically, there is only one quarterback with a consensus Round 1 projection, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. Even Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a bit difficult to project. But from those two quarterbacks, the draftable number of NFL hopefuls falls to less than 10. Still, the prospects have plenty of upside, depending on the perspective.

It comes down to heart, and Snead is a bloodhound when it comes to tracking down the prospects who want a football career as much as oxygen. Young football players with intense focus on playing football know how to succeed. And the LA Rams are happy to help them do so.

It's no longer an option. This team needs to start training Matthew Stafford's successor. Despite the reputation of this draft class, everything is set up perfectly for Les Snead to find his guy.

As always, thanks for reading.