Matthew Stafford is back with Rams, but replacement might be on roster soon

Matthew Stafford significantly reduced the Rams’ anxiety level last week when he revealed his plans to return next season as their quarterback.

With the reigning NFL MVP back, the Rams can now devote the bulk of their offseason focus to closing the gap on the Seahawks, the team standing in their way of playing for another Lombardi Trophy.

Among the biggest needs are an upgrade at cornerback, a wide receiver capable of taking the top of the defense and depth along the offensive line.

But while Stafford’s return lessens the Rams’ urgency at quarterback, it by no means eliminates it.

The day is rapidly approaching when they have to deal with a world that no longer includes their 38-year-old gunslinger. Do they want to have a potential heir apparent in place when Stafford officially calls it a career? Or do they wait until afterward to identify his replacement?

It’s essentially the difference between being the Packers, who proactively planned for life without Aaron Rodgers by drafting Jordan Love three years beforehand, or the Steelers, who have run through multiple quarterbacks scrambling to replace Ben Roethlisberger.

Yes, the Rams can catch a major break, as the Chargers did when they drafted Justin Herbert the same offseason they moved on from Philip Rivers. But the Chargers won just five games the previous season, thus putting themselves in draft range to select Herbert with the sixth overall pick.

Barring a major surprise or development, the Rams will be among the NFL’s best teams next season, which likely could be Stafford’s swan song. If so, they will be well out of reach to draft one of the top college prospects, such as Texas’ Arch Manning, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr or Oregon’s Dante Moore.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Les Snead and Sean McVay, the Rams’ two football leaders, always operate a step or two ahead of everyone else. That could include their plan to replace Stafford.

If so, don’t be surprised if they are aggressive in securing a quarterback whom they can pour development into the next year or two, with the hope of creating as seamless a transition as possible.

That could mean the Rams’ future quarterback could be on the roster when they begin OTAs.

Here are some ideas on how they might go:

The draft

Thanks to some shrewd maneuvers last April, the Rams hold two first-round picks in the 2026 draft. Their own, at No. 29, and the Falcons’ pick at No. 13. That leaves them uniquely positioned to find Stafford’s replacement in the draft.

It’s shaping up as a decidedly one-quarterback draft, with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza the undisputed top prospect. The Raiders, though, will undoubtedly use the first pick overall to bring him to Las Vegas.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t other alluring prospects, just no one who projects as a Day 1 starter.

But then Love, whom the Packers proactively drafted to eventually replace Rodgers, and Jalen Hurts, whom the Eagles selected to take over for Carson Wentz, were not considered immediate starters, either.

Now look at them.

Alabama’s Ty Simpson fits the Love and Hurts mode as a prospect with high-level, projectable skills, but who needs development time.

He makes a lot of sense for the Rams, who can use the next year or two to invest quality coaching and time into him while he learns behind Stafford.

Yes, the Rams would take a risk using their pick at No. 13 to select him. But that risk is mitigated with their second pick in the first round and Snead’s history of finding plenty of value beyond the first day of the draft.

Another QB to watch is Penn State’s Drew Allar. He was considered a likely first-round pick last year before opting to return to the Nittany Lions, then struggled in 2025 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. His stock took a major fall as a result.

It would be easy to dismiss Allar as a prospect based on last season, but that would be a mistake. At 6-foot-5, he’s got a cannon arm, athletic ability, smarts and toughness. Everything is in place to excel at the next level.

Allar is projected to be a Day 2 pick, likely in the second round. Depending on how he tests and interviews during the evaluation process — he’s been invited to the NFL scouting combine — the Rams can’t rule out using the second of their first-round picks to beat others to the punch.

Other draft possibilities are Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Carson Beck (Miami), Taylen Green (Arkansas) and Cade Klubnik (Clemson).

Veteran free agency or trade

It’s a moot point — at least for now — but had Stafford retired, it would have shocked no one if the Rams immediately turned to the Bengals with a Godfather trade offer for Joe Burrow.

Don’t rule out that scenario for next year, though. Burrow is already showing signs of frustration and could force the Bengals’ hand. The Rams would not hesitate to act if that happens.

As far as this offseason’s free agency and trade markets, the Packers’ Malik Willis makes some sense. He played well in relief of Love last season, and his experience working in Matt LaFleur’s system makes for an easy transition to McVay and the Rams.

But you figure Willis wants to go somewhere where the chance for immediate playing time is in place. With J.J. McCarthy struggling with his play and injuries last year, the Vikings make some sense. So do the Jets and potentially the Cardinals, depending on what Arizona does with Kyler Murray.

An under-the-radar possibility is the Colts’ Anthony Richardson, whose development has been severely stunted by a rash of injuries. Richardson is extremely raw, but his skill set is through the roof. The Rams could spend one to two years developing him behind the scenes with the idea of building the ideal quarterback to replace Stafford.