After being eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was non-committal about his future. Turning 37 in February, Stafford has played 16 seasons and seems open to the possibility of retiring. As he considers his future, it’s time to start thinking about Rams quarterback options in 2025.
Los Angeles won’t be picking anywhere near the top of the 2025 NFL Draft order, so trading up for Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward is certainly not happening. The team is also working with limited draft capital this offseason, so trading up at any point for a quarterback is risky.
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As we head into the start of the offseason, here are a few potential Rams quarterback options in 2025.
Sam Darnold

When Sam Darnold played at an MVP-like level midway through the regular season, there were multiple NFL rumors that he could be an option for the Los Angeles Rams if Stafford walked away. A disastrous two-game stretch to end the season cost Darnold tens of millions of dollars in his next contract, but there’s no reason to think it would take him off the Rams’ radar.
- Sam Darnold stats (2024): 4,319 passing yards, 35-12 TD-INT, 102.5 QB rating, 66.2% completion rate, 6.4% touchdown rate, 7.9 yards per attempt
For one thing, Los Angeles would be a far better situation for Darnold than some of the top options (Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans) in NFL free agency. It would give the USC alum and the San Clemente native a chance to return home. Plus, he’d step into an offense with an excellent running back, a young All-Pro receiver, and a workable offensive line.
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Furthermore, Rams head coach Sean McVay would almost certainly believe that he can mitigate Darnold’s issues versus pressure. Coaches are very confident in their abilities and it’s reasonable to believe McVay’s confidence in his abilities would make Darnold an attractive option for Los Angeles.
Kirk Cousins

Likely to be released by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, the majority of Kirk Cousins’ salary in 2024 would be covered by his former team. If Stafford walks away, that makes Cousins a very cost-effective option for Los Angeles on a one-year deal.
- Los Angeles Rams cap space 2025 (OverTheCap.com): $46.601 million
Aaron Rodgers’ late-season run is an example of how long it can take a quarterback nearing the end of his career to return to effectiveness post-Achilles tear. For Cousins, that timeline better lines up with the 2025 NFL season. He’s obviously even more of a statue in the pocket than he used to be, which is saying a lot.
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However, he operates the offense exactly like the coach designs it and he’s still a pretty effective passer. Cousins would certainly be a downgrade compared to Stafford, but he could provide added value with the cost savings with that added cap space used to strengthen the rest of the Rams roster. At the very least, the Rams could have a top-15 offense with Cousins under center.
Quinn Ewers

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers might’ve been viewed as a first-round talent in the 2025 NFL Draft if he had a better season. However, his completion rate fell by 3.2 points, his yards per attempt dropped by a full yard and he threw more interceptions in 2024 than he did in his first two seasons at Texas. However, Ewers being available on Day 2 makes him a more reasonable option for Los Angeles.
- Quinn Ewers stats (ESPN): 3,472 passing yards, 31-12 TD-INT, 65.8% completion rate, 7.8 ypa
It’s also worth first keeping in mind that the 6-foot-2 quarterback, the No. 1 recruit in the nation back in 2021, dealt with a high-ankle sprain and an oblique injury. So injuries are partially to blame for his down season. What he offers, beyond three years of starting experience, is accuracy and the ability to keep an offense in rhythm, operating like a point guard.
With slightly above-average athleticism, there’s enough upside for him to be a functional starter whose numbers can be elevated by a great supporting cast, which the Rams have. If McVay wants a young starter he can work with, Ewers would be a reasonable Day 2 pick.
Dillon Gabriel

Aaron Rodgers drew some consideration as an option to be the Rams starting quarterback in 2025, but his detest for the use of pre-snap motion in an offense makes that unlikely. So, we instead re-focus back on the 2025 NFL Draft with Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
- Dillon Gabriel stats (ESPN): 3,857 passing yards, 30-6 TD-INT, 72.9% completion rate, 8.6 yards per attempt, 7 rushing touchdowns
Standing at 6 feet, Gabriel comes with some physical limitations. He does have below-average arm strength and he played in a gimmicky offense that schemed opened a lot of good looks for him. That would mean incorporating more passes behind the line of scrimmage – 13.6% rate for Matthew Stafford in 2024. However, Stafford had the second-highest rate (47.6 percent) of throws between 0-9 yards past the line of scrimmage, so McVay is very comfortable using the underneath game to beat defenses.
We’ve seen Gabriel perform at his best against top competition – 640 passing yards and 5 total touchdowns in two games versus Ohio State – which offers room for hope. He also showcased excellent accuracy and his experience as a starter has sharpened his ability to make reads before the snap. Projected to be a third-round pick, he could be an intriguing option for McVay.