Stetson Bennett success could have tremendous ripple effects for Rams future

He was selected with the 128th overall pick in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft. After hearing his name called out by the Los Angeles Rams, Stetson Bennett instantly entered the running to become a successor to veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, leading them to two successive national championships. He is not particularly gifted athletically. And as such, he is either forgotten or dismissed in NFL conversations.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett is entering his third Rams training camp. If some Rams fans have their way, this will be his last camp. But that's nothing new for Bennett. After stepping away from the game in 2023, those same fans have lobbied hard for the team to dismiss Bennett for a year. Still, there he is on the Rams' depth chart. He plays behind starting QB Matthew Stafford and veteran backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo. But to be fair, any young quarterback drafted in the past three years would find himself in the same spot on the depth chart.

It's ironic that in the year in which both Rams GM Les Snead and HC Sean McVay discussed a quarterback succession plan, the team finds itself in the same quarterback configuration as a year ago. Of course, the 2025 NFL Draft was not touted for QB rookies. This draft was flush with talent at other positions.

Still, the Rams met with multiple rookie quarterback prospects.

I suspect that the Rams pivoted from drafting a rookie quarterback in 2025 to 2026 as soon as the team acquired a Round 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from the Atlanta Falcons. But another byproduct of that trade is competing for playing time in the 2025 Rams training camp. Stetson Bennett is still on the Rams roster, and he is as competitive as ever.

This is not the first rodeo that Bennett has been to. He was a walk-on for the Georgia Bulldogs and did not necessarily get a warm reception in college either. But he is a determined individual, a true competitor who seems to reach a new level of performance as the lights get brighter and the stage gets bigger.

He is 5-foot-11. He weighs 190 pounds. He runs a 4.67-second 40-yard dash. But when it comes to playing the game of football, he is not the guy you want to face. He is a winner. He will do whatever it takes and whatever is humanly possible to win.

Just check out his college achievements.

When Rams GM Les Snead first discussed drafting Stetson Bennett, you could interpret from his words and tonal reflections that Bennett was just one more college player in the queue. But once Snead saw his footage, he realized that Bennett is more than a game manager surrounded by stars.

Bennett is that spark of competition that ignites teammates. He is the unquantifiable wildcard. When it comes to playing football, success hinges on talent, preparation, and motivation. Bennett is the guy who inspires the entire team.

And now, he is fighting for a roster spot with the Rams one more.