Are the Rams a quiet Sam Darnold crew this offseason?

Earlier this week, Los Angeles Rams large receiver Cooper Kupp introduced that the crew knowledgeable him that they’d be seeking to commerce him this offseason. After all, that now has many speculating or questioning whether or not or not the crew will rip off the band-aid and transfer into the following period of Rams soccer by additionally buying and selling quarterback Matthew Stafford.

It appears ridiculous on its face. The Rams have been 14 yards away from the NFC Championship recreation. Had they overwhelmed the Philadelphia Eagles, they’d have been favored at house in opposition to the Washington Commanders. That’s to not say that they’d have gained, however they most actually would have been favored to characterize the NFC within the Tremendous Bowl. So long as Stafford is the quarterback of the Rams, they may have an opportunity to compete. MMQB’s Albert Breer went on the Dan Patrick Present on Tuesday and mentioned,

“Nobody is talking about the Matthew Stafford thing, I don’t understand it. I don’t understand that nobody is talking about the idea that Stafford could be available and that if you’re another team you’re probably calling the Rams. That contract negotiation last year was tough…Now we’re into a part of his contract where there’s no guaranteed money left. He’s making less money than he was on the books to make this year because they borrowed from that to give him the money this past year. They had an agreement when they did the re-worked deal, we’re going to re-visit it at the end of the year. Well, now we’re at the point where they’re going to re-visit it. So, what if Matthew Stafford wants a market correction and says, ‘7-8 guys are making over $50-million, I want $50-million.’ There’s just a lot of stuff there where if I’m another team, I’m making that call. I think the coaches would love to have him back in Los Angeles. There’s just a lot there that they’ve got to work through over the next few weeks.”

Previous to the 2023 season, Rams basic supervisor Les Snead talked about constructing round three pillars or “weight-bearing walls.” These pillars have been Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, and Cooper Kupp. We’re now two years down the highway from that and Donald has retired and the crew simply knowledgeable Kupp that they will commerce him. Two-thirds of these weight-bearing partitions from that period of Rams soccer are gone. It’s clear that the entrance workplace is beginning to look forward somewhat bit and exchange these partitions with newer items comparable to Puka Nacua and Jared Verse.

This isn’t to say that the Rams ought to commerce Matthew Stafford. So long as Stafford is the Rams quarterback, the crew may have an opportunity. That’s been confirmed a lot over the past two years because the quarterback has performed at a top-10 and generally a top-5 stage down the stretch because the Rams have recovered from begins of 3-6 and 1-4.

It’s not even an apples-to-apples comparability in terms of Stafford and Kupp. Stafford continues to be enjoying at a top-10 stage and when he’s on, he has proven that he’s among the many finest quarterbacks within the NFL. That wasn’t the case with Kupp anymore. It turned very clear over the second half of the season with Kupp that the accidents had begun to take their toll. He couldn’t reduce and create separation like he might even two years in the past. There’s a motive most of his large performs late within the season got here on a vertical aircraft.

Nonetheless, that is one thing that the entrance workplace and NFL entrance workplaces will take into account. Heading into Tom Brady’s age 37 season, the New England Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo within the second spherical. Traditionally talking, NFL quarterbacks don’t final for much longer than 35 or 36 years of age. It’s exhausting to make use of Brady for example, as a result of up thus far, he’s been a unicorn. The expectation shouldn’t be and it will possibly’t be that Stafford will play till he’s 45. Stafford will probably be heading into his age 37 season in 2025.

Rams – Stafford are possible going via negotiation ways

But when they hit a wall, I do marvel if the Rams are a quiet Sam Darnold crew

(or I had too many pints) https://t.co/RQLdmhNTkJ

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 30, 2025

Once more, the Stafford and Kupp conditions are fully totally different. Nonetheless, the Rams entrance workplace has proven, as they did with Kupp, that they nonetheless acknowledge the enterprise facet of the NFL. Regardless of Kupp’s significance to the franchise, there’s a motive why the Rams wouldn’t pay him near $30-million this season. They’ll need to have that very same dialog concerning Stafford and whether or not or not it’s value paying a 37-year outdated quarterback $53-million. That might put him in step with Tua Tagovailoa and Jared Goff. It might additionally make Stafford the oldest highest paid quarterback with Kirk Cousins at $45-million who can also be 37.

It’s additionally value contemplating the long run quarterback panorama. The free agent quarterback panorama this season contains Sam Darnold. Darnold is somebody who simply had a number of success with the Minnesota Vikings enjoying in a really comparable offense because the Rams run below Sean McVay. The 12 months earlier than he was with the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan.

Choosing on the twenty sixth general choose, the Rams gained’t be in place to draft a quarterback this 12 months. This additionally isn’t essentially a quarterback class value investing in. Subsequent 12 months’s free agent quarterback class contains Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell. Each of these gamers don’t give off a lot inspiration as nicely.

At 27-years outdated, Darnold is smart as that bridge quarterback that may join the hole between the outdated Rams core of Stafford, Donald, and Kupp to the youthful core of gamers. Robert Mayes and Derrick Klassen mentioned this precise situation lately on The Athletic Soccer Present. Mentioned Mayes,

“Can you trade Stafford for a one and then just sign Sam Darnold for the Stafford money? And is that actually a better place to be if you are the Los Angeles Rams for the next five years? Because you get the draft capital in addition to a much younger quarterback on what is probably going to be a similar deal…You’ve got to find an off ramp to a younger quarterback solution at some point. Stafford is 37. Cooper Kupp is 32. So, you’ve got some aging, expensive pieces. This is an aging core. Can they take one more run at it? Maybe that’s not the way to think about it. Maybe the way to think about it is, is this the offseason where we actually kind of pivot to the younger core that we have and maybe change the timeline a little bit. I understand the arguments on both sides.”

Klassen added,

“It’s really not crazy. I think for 2025 you’re a worse team, but for 2027 the health of your team and roster might be better. I just don’t know if they’re looking at it that way or not.”

There’s a large unfavourable affiliation in terms of Darnold as a quarterback. Nonetheless, the final two weeks of the season closely inflate the general season as a complete. Darnold threw for 35 touchdowns final 12 months whereas serving to lead the Vikings to 14 wins. His adjusted EPA per play within the second half of the 12 months ranked tenth which was proper behind Stafford whereas his general success fee ranked seventh.

It’s exhausting to argue Darnold as being a high quarterback or having the identical upside as Stafford at his finest. There are questions on what Darnold can do on the massive stage and his general pocket consciousness and motion. On the identical time, Kevin O’Connell didn’t essentially present him straightforward solutions within the Wild Card recreation and the Vikings offensive line did permit the third-highest strain fee this season and ranked eighth in adjusted sack fee.

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To reiterate, this isn’t to say that the Rams ought to commerce Matthew Stafford. It’s not even to say that the Rams ought to go together with Darnold over Stafford subsequent season. Nonetheless, it’s a potential situation. The Rams shifting on from Stafford isn’t as low of a share as some wish to consider. It’s nonetheless unlikely, however not out of realm of chance.

If the Rams might signal Darnold for one thing between the Baker Mayfield variety of $33.5-million and the present Stafford contract of $40-million, they’d be saving upwards of over $10-million with Darnold. Let’s say the Rams spend $35-million on Darnold. They may then make investments and create an ecosystem for rookie quarterback to succeed whereas additionally placing extra complementary items round Darnold. The upside will not be as excessive within the short-term, however that doesn’t imply they nonetheless couldn’t win 10 video games with Darnold. If the Rams wish to regulate their timeline and nonetheless wish to stay aggressive, it’s an possibility.

The hypothetical situation right here would make Darnold the quarterback in 2025, give the Rams extra draft capital and cash saved in a Stafford commerce, after which give them the power to draft a quarterback comparable to LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina in 2026. Darnold stays the quarterback in 2026 for the primary 6-8 video games which was the Vikings’ plan with JJ McCarthy this 12 months earlier than handing a rookie the reins.

Once more, that is all about the place the Rams see their present timeline and in the event that they wish to take the leap. Do they go all-in and attempt to wring out each final drop or do they leap head first into the following period? It’s a situation on the desk.

This isn’t about Darnold making the Rams higher than Stafford does or being a greater possibility at quarterback. It nonetheless appears like McVay and Stafford needs to be related on the hip contemplating their private relationship. If McVay had his alternative, he could resolve to experience Stafford till his proper arm falls off.

What it merely comes right down to is the place the Rams entrance workplace sees the roster and the way they wish to transfer ahead. With no Donald and Kupp, how the Rams noticed themselves in 2025 two years in the past has shifted drastically.

Whereas it nonetheless is likely to be a longshot, if the Rams have been to resolve that shifting on from Stafford and adjusting their timeline was the way in which to go, Darnold would very possible be somebody that they see as a bridge between the 2 eras and a short-term Stafford substitute.