Rams Might Make a Move for Matthew Stafford’s Successor at the NFL Draft

Los Angeles enters the 2026 NFL Draft with the luxury of patience and the burden of foresight. Matthew Stafford, fresh off the first MVP trophy of his 15-year career, has already declared that he will pilot the Rams’ offense for at least one more season after guiding the club to the NFC Championship game. The 38-year-old’s return keeps the Super Bowl window wide open, but it also forces the front office to confront an inevitable question: what comes next whenever No. 9 walks away?

General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay have repeatedly stressed that a rebuild is not in the franchise’s vocabulary. The roster’s spine is young and ascending—receiver Puka Nacua, edge rusher Jared Verse, running back Kyren Williams and newly extended corner Trent McDuffie have an average age of 23. That core gives the Rams flexibility to draft for 2027 and beyond rather than chase an immediate starter.

Still, the quarterback pipeline must be addressed. While blockbuster speculation linking Los Angeles to disgruntled stars like Josh Allen or Joe Burrow will flood social feeds, league sources consider those scenarios unlikely. Instead, the draft—set to begin with Fernando Mendoza off the board at No. 1 to Las Vegas—offers a more pragmatic path.

Sitting at pick 13, the Rams could select Alabama’s Ty Simpson, yet many evaluators view that slot as rich for the Crimson Tide signal-caller. A trade-back into the late first or early second round has gained traction inside the building, especially because McVay’s track record with developmental passers (most notably Jared Goff in 2016) encourages a bet on upside over polish.

Two names have dominated internal discussions since the college season ended: LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar. Once forecast as top-five talents before injuries derailed their 2025 campaigns, both possess prototypical 6-foot-4 frames and rocket arms. Their tape is uneven, their pocket command raw, and their footwork inconsistent—traits that would terrify clubs seeking Week 1 starters. For Los Angeles, that timeline is a feature, not a bug.

With Stafford entrenched, Nussmeier or Allar could spend a full season—or two—absorbing McVay’s system without the pressure of live bullets. The Rams’ roster strength also insulates a young quarterback from being rushed into duty, a luxury few organizations can provide. If the gamble hits, the payoff mirrors the Green Bay model that incubated Hall of Famers behind established starters.

The alternative is waiting for the 2027 class, headlined by Texas phenom Arch Manning, but delaying increases the risk of being caught without a succession plan when Stafford ultimately retires. By striking on Day 2 this spring, Los Angeles secures a high-ceiling prospect at a discounted price while preserving 2027 capital to continue building around its young nucleus.

In a draft cycle where quarterback-desperate franchises are expected to overpay for the remaining first-round options, the Rams are positioned to be the patient predator, turning a second- or third-round flier into the most cost-effective insurance policy in the league.