Unless the Los Angeles Rams can be certain that Stetson Bennett will play in 2024 and be available all year, they’ll need to make a move at quarterback. Whether it’s re-signing Carson Wentz, bringing in a veteran or drafting someone to be Matthew Stafford’s backup, the Rams have to find more stability behind No. 9.
One potential option is taking a shot on Zach Wilson. After he was benched twice last season and had yet another abysmal season in New York, the Jets could be looking to move on frothanm the former No. 2 overall pick. They’ll look to trade him before releasing him, though it’s unclear if any team would be willing to take on his $5.45 million cap charge for 2024.
If the Rams are even considering this possibility, they’ll surely ask two of the coaches on their own staff. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was the Jets’ offensive coordinator for the first two years of Wilson’s career in New York. Rob Calabrese, who the Rams just hired as an offensive assistant on Tuesday, was the Jets’ quarterbacks coach for the last three years.
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Those two coaches worked as closely with Wilson as anyone in the NFL. Therefore, if anyone knows whether Wilson has what it takes to turn things around, it’s LaFleur and Calabrese. The Rams never leave any stone unturned so it’s likely that Sean McVay and Les Snead will talk to both coaches about Wilson to find out whether he’s worth giving a chance.
A reclamation project has never scared the Rams away, giving Blake Bortles, Baker Mayfield and Wentz all a shot under McVay’s tenure. Wilson could be next in line to learn McVay’s scheme in hopes of righting the ship.
Given his poor play in New York, it’s hard to fathom Wilson fetching anything more than a sixth- or seventh-round pick. The Rams have four sixth-rounders and probably won’t find a quarterback with the talent that Wilson has at that point in the draft. Obviously, a sixth-rounder also won’t cost Los Angeles more than $5 million for one season, but there’s always a chance the Rams could get the Jets to eat some of his contract as a way to facilitate a trade.
The safer option would be to re-sign Wentz and keep him as Stafford’s backup, but if McVay, LaFleur and Calabrese see something in Wilson, he could be a player to watch.