Did Rams make right choice not drafting a quarterback?
One of the more interesting aspects of an NFL offseason is the several different routes that teams can take and that is also the same for the Los Angeles Rams. What if the Rams use the money that they spent on Jonah Jackson last year and instead bring in Saquon Barkley? It’s fair to wonder whether or not the Rams should have signed a cornerback or drafted a left tackle this past offseason. There are several different routes that can be taken and anything discussed after the fact is simply hindsight.
As the Rams move into training camp, starting quarterback Matthew Stafford has been dealing with back soreness and is considered week-to-week after consulting with the team’s spinal surgeon. Stafford’s situation remains fluid, but until something changes, the Rams will be relying on Jimmy Garoppolo to execute the offense.
Prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, the Rams were seen as a team who could have been in the market for a quarterback. There was a sense around the league that head coach Sean McVay liked Jaxon Dart. With Stafford getting older and the Rams needing to look ahead to the future, it would have been a perfect situation for a young quarterback with traits such as Jaxon Dart.
Despite committing to Stafford with a new contract, selecting a young quarterback still made sense. Again, Dart was a player that had traits worth betting on. His ability to make throws to unlock all parts of the field is something that McVay values. Dart was also more of an athlete than what the Rams and McVay have had in the past.
Jaxson Dart downfield to Beaux Collins pic.twitter.com/k9TqJfnV8P
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) July 27, 2025
The quarterback wouldn’t have even had to be Dart. Had the Giants traded up ahead of the Rams for Dart, a player with traits such as Jalen Milroe didn’t get drafted until the third round. Tyler Shough had raw ability, but was able to unlock different arm angles.
This isn’t to say that the Rams made a mistake by not taking a quarterback. It was a weaker quarterback class. Additionally, when it comes to draft a quarterback, especially in the first round, it’s important to have conviction. If the Rams didn’t like any of the quarterbacks in the draft, especially in the first round, it’s hard to blame them for not selecting or trading up for one. While the Rams did make a potential move for a quarterback, it came in the form of a trade down. Stafford’s heir is likely a player that comes in 2026 as they will have two first round picks.
Still, Stafford’s back soreness that has popped up in training camp would have given the Rams an opportunity to give that quarterback some valuable experience and potentially put them a year ahead of schedule when it comes to the next era.
Instead, the Rams will be relying on Jimmy Garoppolo if Stafford were to miss time. While Garoppolo is one of the more experienced and better backup quarterbacks in the league, what is his ceiling compared to a rookie? The Rams likely would not win a Super Bowl with a rookie, but the same could probably be said about Garoppolo.
Garoppolo keeps the Rams competitive and his presence still wouldn’t have put any pressure on any rookie to start right away. With that said, how important is being competitive with a 9-8 record if Stafford is unavailable? That’s the exact path that the Pittsburgh Steelers have taken over the past few seasons. However, you could also say that the Steelers forced themselves into Kenny Pickett.
At some point, the Rams will need to start thinking about life post-Stafford. Given the route taken, it’s clear that they didn’t feel like 2025 was the time to begin that process. The Rams seem to be more locked in on the 2026 quarterback class and potentially Arch Manning.
The Rams are riding with Stafford until the wheels fall off when they will hope that the timing lines up with an opportunity in 2026. Whether that’s Arch Manning or another top prospect remains to be seen. However, if Stafford’s back injury persists late into training camp and early into the season, 2025 could end up feeling like a missed opportunity to get a head start on finding his heir.