Shedeur Sanders draft slide could turn into dream scenario for the LA Rams

The Los Angeles Rams were never in the market for a rookie quarterback who wanted to be a starter in 2025. The Rams did not even have the opportunity for any rookie quarterback to compete for a starting role on their roster. With the Rams firmly secured with starting veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford and veteran backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the best opportunity available on this team is to be drafted, sit on the bench for a full season, and try to learn and develop as much as humanly possible for a chance to compete for a larger role in 2026.

So Colorado rookie QB prospect Shedeur Sanders, who comes with a strong desire to start as quickly as possible, was never on the Rams' radar. Nor should he have been. But nobody seems to have guessed that Sanders would fall to Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Now that he is available on Day 3, he has intrinsically fallen into the range of a developmental/backup quarterback. And that is worth the investment of a Day 3 draft pick, which is what the Rams have intended all along:

While some teams may not seek out highly competitive players, the Los Angeles Rams have never shied away from that. All-Pro DB Jalen Ramsey was disruptive with the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the Rams initiated a blockbuster trade to pry him from the Jags roster. And that all turned out rather well.

Let's be clear. Rams GM Les Snead is acutely aware of the need to address the succession plan at quarterback sooner rather than later. And by all accounts, that plan is to land a rookie quarterback who sits for a year, learns from Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo, and takes over this offense when Matthew Stafford decides to hang up his football cleats and retire.

The Rams currently hold two Round 1 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. But, if the team takes a chance on QB Shedeur Sanders and he pans out? Well now, things just got very interesting for the Rams next season.

Sanders is a mobile pocket passer, which translates a pocket passer quarterback who has enough life in his legs to scramble and gain yards if the pocket collapses. And the pocket at Colorado collapsed frequently.

Despite those challenges, Sanders was highly productive at taking what defenses gave him. In two seasons at Colorado, Shedeur Sanders completed 651 of 907 passes for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions. Sanders' offensive struggled, which took many offensive plays off the board as he found himself scrambling to extend plays. He was sacked 52 times in 2025 alone.

Until now, it made no sense for the Rams to reroute a pick to test Sanders upside and fit. But now with Day 3 upon us, the Rams make perfect sense to see if he can cut it in the NFL. And there is no better equipped coaching staff in the NFL to help Sanders develop his ful potential. Best of all, there is no better locker room to ensure that off-field distractions do not impact the team or the player.

The entire Rams football organization is perfectly suited to optimize Shedeur Sanders rookie season.

If the Rams draft Shedeur Sanders and nothing clicks? The Rams lose a Day 3 draft pick. That's happened plenty of times. But if the Rams draft Shedeur Sanders and he realizes his full NFL potential? That is an unbelievable dream scenario for the team, and fans. A true starting quarterback to take over for Matthew Stafford when the time comes, while preserving two Round 1 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Oh boy. That would be something I'd lover to see.

As always, thanks for reading.

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