The Los Angeles Rams are once again at a crossroads with their quarterback depth chart behind Matthew Stafford — and the offseason has brought two very different trade scenarios into view. On one hand is Anthony Richardson, the former No. 4 overall pick with elite physical traits but limited polish.
On the other hand is Tyson Bagent (rhymes with agnet), a developmental yet fundamentally sound quarterback whom the Chicago Bears are publicly taking calls on.
Both players have been mentioned in trade speculation, but the contrast between them could not be more stark — and it points clearly toward Bagent as the smarter, more sustainable option for the Rams.
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Trade Interest Is Real — Especially Around Bagent
Recent reporting from Kevin Fishbain at the 2026 NFL Combine made one thing clear: teams are genuinely interested in Bagent, and the Bears are fielding inquiries.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson didn’t hold back when asked if Bagent could be traded:
“No, I love Tyson… he’s someone that you care about so deeply, and he’s a hell of a football player,”
— Ben Johnson
Bears GM Ryan Poles echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that other teams have called about Bagent and that determining his future won’t be simple:
“We’ve gotten a few calls there… what Ben thinks about Tyson, what I think about Tyson, what our locker room thinks about Tyson — that’s a really tough decision for us.”
— Ryan Poles
In contrast, reports surrounding Richardson’s trade availability stem from his own desire for a fresh start and the Indianapolis Colts’ decision to let him seek a trade after injuries and inconsistent play derailed his development.
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College Experience — A Proven Predictor of NFL Success
One of the most consistent trends in quarterback evaluation is that extensive college starting experience correlates with a smoother NFL transition. QBs with 40+ starts in college generally adapt faster and demonstrate more consistency than those with fewer than 20 starts:
High-Experience QBs (40+ College Starts)
- Philip Rivers: 49 starts, 8× Pro Bowler, 63,000+ yards
- Peyton Manning: 45 starts, 2× Super Bowl champion, 5× MVP
- Russell Wilson: 47 starts, 1× Super Bowl champion, multiple Pro Bowls
- Baker Mayfield: 46 starts, led Browns to playoff victories
- Bo Nix: 61 start
Low-Experience QBs (≤20 College Starts)
- Cam Newton: 14 starts, MVP in 2015, 1× Super Bowl appearance
- Kyler Murray: 17 starts, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl selection
- Mitchell Trubisky: 13 starts, inconsistent career, backup role
- Trey Lance — 17 college starts at North Dakota State
- Dwayne Haskins — 14 college starts
- Mac Jones — 17 college starts
Richardson’s 13 college starts put him firmly in the low-experience category — a group that has produced some stars but also carries higher volatility and steeper developmental curves. Bagent, with 53 starts at Shepherd University, belongs to the high-experience group, giving him a stronger foundation to handle NFL reads, progressions, and pocket management.
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College & NFL Production — Bagent’s Edge
Bagent’s foundation is built on volume and success:
- 53 career college starts (all at Shepherd University)
- 17,034 passing yards — an NCAA all-division record
- 159 touchdown passes — NCAA record
- Winner of the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy (DII’s Heisman)
Richardson’s college résumé included just 13 total starts. While his athletic traits are elite, limited reps left him with underdeveloped mechanics and NFL decision-making challenges.
In the NFL:
Tyson Bagent
- Appeared in 12 games, 5 starts
- 66.4% completion rate
- Two-year, ~$10M extension through 2027
Anthony Richardson
- 17 games, 15 starts
- 50.6% completion rate
- Lost starting role due to injury and inconsistency
Bagent’s experience translates to trustworthy game management, while Richardson remains a boom-or-bust proposition.
Mechanics: Coachable Foundation vs. Raw Tools
Tyson Bagent
- Sound mechanics when on-platform
- Quick release and poised footwork
- Coaches have working to tighten his process, ball placement, and decision-making
- Mechanically teachable
Anthony Richardson
- Raw deliveries with inconsistent footwork
- Injuries have derailed his development time in the NFL
- Timing and progression issues tied to limited experience
- Traits first — structured mechanics second
Mechanics are crucial at the NFL level — especially in a win-now environment like the Rams’. Bagent provides a refinable foundation, while Richardson would require a complete mechanical overhaul.
Rams Context: Stability and Continuity Matter
The Rams are in a competitive window, not a rebuild. They need:
- A backup who can step in without derailing the rhythm
- A QB they can trust with fundamentals and anticipation
- A player who understands structure before playmaking flair
Bagent checks those boxes. Richardson’s upside is tantalizing, but his inconsistency and developmental needs are a mismatch for Los Angeles’ timeline.
Trade Market & Fit
Bagent’s trade market is real — reports link him to:
- Arizona Cardinals
- New York Jets
- Miami Dolphins
- Atlanta Falcons
- Early speculation included the Rams
Richardson remains a developmental swing candidate — more attractive to teams seeking upside lottery tickets, less attractive to teams seeking stability.
Conclusion: Bagent Is the Smarter Option for the Rams
While Anthony Richardson may still become a quality NFL quarterback, the Rams’ priorities — roster balance, continuity, and incremental growth — align more closely with Tyson Bagent. His combination of:
- Extensive starting experience
- Proven NFL game management
- Coachable mechanics
- Leadership and locker-room presence
…makes him the safer, more reliable investment for a team in a win-now window, particularly compared to Richardson’s raw but volatile profile.
In the NFL, experience and fundamentals often trump raw athletic upside — and that’s why Bagent should be the Rams’ target.