The Los Angeles Rams have Matthew Stafford back for the 2025 NFL season, but the organization needs to start thinking about the long-term.
It’s no secret that Stafford is in the twilight of his career and the expectation is he’ll retire within two years.
If that is indeed the timeline, then the Rams will be a team to watch out for in the 2026 NFL Draft as the class is loaded with potential franchise quarterbacks.
However, it appears Los Angeles is highest on Texas quarterback Arch Manning, via Charles Robinson of Yahoo:
Speaking to a handful of Rams personnel sources, Manning is — at this moment — considered by the staff to be the lone Tier 1 quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, regardless of who else could potentially enter into the selection process. Why? The Rams covet Manning’s prototypical size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) and throwing acumen … but also believe it’s his level of athleticism that sets him apart from from every other college football quarterback. So much so, the comparison for Manning inside the franchise is that his ceiling after the 2025 college football season could be a Josh Allen-type of prospect who is actually stronger physically and a faster running athlete than Allen was when he entered the draft in 2018.
The Rams also reportedly seem set on drafting Manning even if Stafford plays past this year:
Interestingly, a high-ranking Rams source told Yahoo Sports that even if Stafford were to choose to return to the team in 2026, the Rams would — at this point — still lean into drafting Manning (if he were gettable) and then put him on ice for his rookie season, similar to the Kansas City Chiefs keeping Patrick Mahomes on the bench behind Alex Smith in 2017. The source added that the franchise believes Stafford would be open to such a scenario, knowing that 2027 will almost certainly be his last season in the NFL, regardless of what transpires during the course of the regular season and playoffs.
Head coach Sean McVay is lauded for his ability to extract the most out of a quarterback, so it’s easy to understand why the organization is laser-focused on a generational prospect like Manning. The young signal caller isn’t a lock to declare for the draft, but if he does expect Los Angeles to do whatever it takes to draft him.
While they likely won’t be high enough in the first round to take Manning, the Rams will have two first-rounders, theirs and the Atlanta Falcons’, if they want to attempt to move up.
Rams will be cautious with Matthew Stafford due to back soreness
While the Rams began training camp this past week, Matthew Stafford was absent due to back soreness. While it doesn’t appear serious, the team will be cautious with Stafford to ensure it doesn’t become a bigger issue.
