The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2026 offseason with a ton of questions after a crushing loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
One of the main storylines in Los Angeles this offseason will be the future of quarterback Matthew Stafford. Though Stafford is coming off a career year in 2026 and could be the NFL MVP, the veteran signal-caller has contemplated retirement over the last few years.
Even if Stafford decides to return for another season, the Rams should begin planning life after the 37-year-old quarterback.
As a result, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz predicts Los Angeles will trade up for a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here is what Schatz had to say about his franchise-altering prediction for the Rams:
The Rams will trade up in the draft for a quarterback. They need a young talent for when Stafford is ready to hang ’em up, whether that’s this offseason or in a few years. What better time to plan for the future than when they have two first-round picks?”
Outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is widely expected to be the top overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, the quarterback class is lackluster this year.
Though the Rams do have the firepower to move up in the draft order, as the team has two first-round picks due to trading back in last year’s draft with the Atlanta Falcons, it isn’t wise to move up for an uncertain quarterback.
However, if Los Angeles falls in love with a signal-caller in April’s draft who could be the eventual Stafford replacement, head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead should consider making a massive trade and securing their quarterback of the future.
