Will a shortage of rookie QB prospects in 2025 NFL Draft alter Rams plans?

The LA Rams love veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. But this team has some work to do over the quarterback position after this season. The Rams' contract with backup veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo expires, forcing the team to either negotiate a contract extension with his representation or shop for another veteran backup. And then there is the matter of starting veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

To satisfy Stafford's demands, the team reworked his contract to accelerate all guaranteed monies due him into 2024. Per OverTheCap.com, Stafford is due $49.7 million in 2025, but only $4 million of that amount is guaranteed. Both sides understand that Stafford will not return if that does not change.

Finally, the Los Angeles Rams have backup quarterback Stetson Bennett. Bennett missed all of his rookie season due to mental fatigue. But he did show up in 2024 and had a promising training camp as well as preseason. Not much is heard about Stetson Bennett right now, and that is expected. But does the front office and coaching staff consider Bennett the heir apparent for the quarterback job if and when Stafford steps away?

Stay tuned.

So now we pivot to the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, once thought to be the one-stop superstore for the LA Rams roster needs. But, without sounding the alarm, it appears that the draft may not hold the solution for all of the Rams projected roster needs:

So the question is, how will that affect the Rams offseason plans?

For openers, I expect it places more pressure on the team to extend veteran backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. And I am wholeheartedly in favor of the team going in that direction. But if the Rams want to roll the dice, there may be other options in free agency worth exploring.

But I will lower the likelihood of the Rams delving into the quarterback position in the 2025 NFL Draft. One of the targets for the draft is Penn State University QB Drew Allar, who has already opted to return to PSU for his senior year. Allar was a prime rookie prospect for the Rams because he has the potential to be a solid NFL quarterback, and was projected to be on the board when the Rams made their selection:

Even as the team knows that the quarterback position must be fully addressed this season, there are no compelling reasons to change the players on the roster. If anything, continuity could be an advantage, as the Rams quarterback position has changed dramatically each of the past three seasons behind starting QB Stafford.

What will the Rams do? That remains to be seen, and will likely depend on how the 2024 NFL season ends. While I was all-in on the Rams drafting a future quarterback in 2025, I have moderated that position. If the right prospect is there, I will still be happy if the front office selects him.

I simply no longer believe that the right prospect will be on the board when the Rams make their selection. And as the situation has continued to develop, I expect that Rams front office sees that the same way as well.

As always, thanks for reading.

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