Saints Derek Carr calamity is exactly what Rams must avoid in 2026

The Los Angeles Rams reached an agreement with veteran QB Matthew Stafford to return for the 2025 NFL season. While it was not the easiest negotiations, cooler heads eventually prevailed to hammer out a manageable contract. But the negotiations were unsettled after the 2023 NFL season, difficult after the 2024 season. So there is no reason to expect anything more than very challenging negotiations to bring back Matthew Stafford in 2026.

While some fans will cite a myopic view of so what? Focus on 2025. Don't bother me with details about 2026 yet. Rams GM Les Snead does not have that luxury. He has to view the Rams roster with one eye to the future. While the quarterback position seems settled for 2025, the Rams' quarterback situation in 2026 is anything but. And the recent news from New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr announcing his retirement from the NFL is an alarming reminder that sometimes unexpected events can leave an NFL team in a precariously dangerous position.

Why do I say that?

The current New Orleans Saints QB room is populated by rookie QB Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and Hunter Dekkers. While it's safe to view Dekkers as a camp arm, Haener was drafted in 2023, Rattler was drafted in 2024, and Shough was drafted in 2025. Of the group, only Rattler has any amount of experience, and that experience is simply not good enough to be viewed as a threat to wrestle the starting quarterback role from Shough.

Rams beware.

Stafford retirement can happen at any time

The Rams are fine in 2025. Not only is veteran QB Matthew Stafford starting, but the team has veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo backing him up, plus two more years of young QB Stetson Bennett. But it all changes in 2026. Stafford will be back, as long as the team is interested enough to ensure enough guaranteed money to bring him back. Garoppolo is destined to test the free agency waters in 2026. Even Stetson Bennett enters the last season of his rookie contract.

Suddenly, the option to draft a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft becomes a distinct need. The Rams' abundance of talent at quarterback now becomes a shortage just one year later. And that is not just alarmist speculation. It's the harsh, fast-paced reality of life in the NFL.

The Rams have plenty of ammunition in the 2026 NFL Draft to address their quarterback need of the future. But let's not fool ourselves. The Rams margin of error is gone. If Matthew Stafford decided to hang up his cleats after 2025, the Rams current QB room consists of one more year of Stetson Bennett.

That is not an optimal situation.

Yes, the Rams can recycle veteran castaways and hope for the best. But the wiser strategy is to draw a line in the sand and commit to selecting the best affordable and available quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. Unlike drafting a rookie in 2025, the team may not have a grace period of sitting a rookie to watch Matthew Stafford work next season.

Think it can't happen? Derek Carr retired at 34 years old. Matthew Stafford is 37 years old. Stafford can choose to retire at any time. If and when that happens, Rams GM Les Snead must ensure that the team is prepared to play on.

As always, thanks for reading.

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