How the Los Angeles Rams are planning to replace the 36-year-old Matthew Stafford becomes a bigger question with each passing day. Regardless of how one feels about the foreseeable future for the veteran quarterback, the end is nigh — whether it is after the season or after his contract expires after the 2026 season.
The Rams have struggled to fill Stafford’s backup role with an heir apparent over his tenure with the team, churning through several different options over the last four years. In 2022, Baker Mayfield led the team in when Matthew Stafford was sidelined due to a spinal cord injury. He was signed to start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The following year, Carson Wentz assumed the starting role in the season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, with Stafford being rested in preparation for the playoffs. He was picked up to back Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs In that time they also drafted Stetson Bennett in the third round of the 2023 draft.
Ahead of this season, they added veteran Jimmy Garoppolo to serve in that role. It was announced that he would get his first start ahead of the team’s Week 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks to provide Stafford rest time heading into their eventual playoff matchup.
Is Jimmy Garoppolo The Bridge QB The Rams Need After Matthew Stafford
Gary Klein of the LA Times suggests that Garoppolo is a possible candidate to bridge the gap between Stafford and the future franchise quarterback.
“Still, after forcing the Rams’ hand to do a contract revision last July, it is not outside the realm of possibility that the 16-year pro’s future with the team might be year to year,” Klein writes. “If the Rams or Stafford decided to move on, the seasoned Garoppolo, 33, could be a bridge while McVay and general manager Les Snead search for Stafford’s long-term successor. Regardless, Garoppolo aims to perform well Sunday, engineer a victory, and increase his stock as a potential starter after his one-year contract with the Rams expires.”
Garoppolo faces an uphill battle to move the offense as he will be at the helm without most of its starters, including Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams. He will also play behind an offensive line missing three starters.
Regardless of the outcome of the game, it comes down to how head coach Sean McVay sees Garoppolo’s performance and fit with the team.
“He is looking forward to seeing Garoppolo incorporate what he has absorbed as the backup,” Klein writes of McVay
“I want to go see guys play well around him,” McVay said, “and him be able to enjoy the opportunity to do what he loves — and that’s go play and compete.”