Rams' possible Matthew Stafford bridge may emerge due to Kliff Kingsbury hire

While the Los Angeles Rams should theoretically be set at quarterback after Matthew Stafford threw for 46 touchdowns en route to an MVP, the fact that he just turned 38 years old means Sean McVay and Les Snead might need to start thinking about life after No. 9 under center.

The Rams will likely be too good to select one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 or 2027 NFL Drafts, meaning that the more likely option is signing a veteran bridge who can steady the ship for one season before they can reassess if they want a big-name star or a younger prospect to rebuild around.

One such bridge quarterback might come to them in free agency, as Washington Commanders backup Marcus Mariota is scheduled to be one of the more attractive names on the open market. Mariota will likely prioritize coaches with whom he has some familiarity.

It just so happens that the Rams have one of those coaches in Kliff Kingsbury, who washired to the coaching staff after a two-season stint with the Washington Commanders. That connection might be enough to possibly land the Rams both a 2026 backup and a possible 2027 starter.

Rams could sign Marcus Mariota due to links with Kliff Kingsbury

Mariota, who will turn 33 in October, started eight games over the last two seasons in Washington behind young standout Jayden Daniels. Mariota threw for 14 touchdowns against just seven interceptions in that span, all while showing that he can still use his legs to make plays.

Mariota, who was picked No. 2 overall by the Tennessee Titans way back in 2015, hasn't put up the best numbers in the last few years, but he hasn't had the offensive line and wide receiver talent that he would have if he came to Los Angeles.

Veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo faces free agency, which could prompt the need for a Mariota signing. If 2026 is it for Stafford, Mariota could try to keep this team competitive in 2027 before the Rams end up looking for a more permanent solution they can invest some extra resources into.

Mariota has shown that he is both willing to accept a cheaper deal as a backup and operate an offense with a distinct Kingsbury flavor to it at a fairly effective pace. The allure of playing with two offensive juggernauts in Kingsbury and McVay might convince Mariota to take his talents to Los Angeles.