It appears the Los Angeles Rams have already recognized a possible alternative for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
In a chunk revealed Monday, The Athletic’s Jordan Rodrigue reported Rams head coach Sean McVay “actually likes” veteran backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Rodrigue added L.A. may re-sign Garoppolo — an unrestricted free agent — as a “bridge QB.”
Stafford is getting into the third yr of a four-year, $160M deal and has $4M in guaranteed money remaining, through Over the Cap. Per Rodrigue, each events met earlier than Tremendous Bowl LIX to debate a brand new contract however have made little progress, which may improve the workforce’s probabilities of buying and selling him.
If L.A. strikes on from the 37-year-old passer, would Garoppolo assist the Rams clinch their third straight playoff berth?
When he began for the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-22, Garoppolo went 38-17 within the common season and guided the membership to a Tremendous Bowl look within the 2019 season.
His tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders was far much less profitable. In 2023, Garoppolo went 3-3 in six begins, posting an underwhelming 77.7 passer ranking. The membership subsequently benched him in favor of quarterback Aidan O’Connell and launched him.
McVay and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan run comparable offenses. Maybe Garoppolo may salvage his profession in McVay’s scheme.
That does not erase considerations in regards to the 33-year-old’s intensive damage historical past. Garoppolo hasn’t performed a complete common season since 2019 due to foot, shoulder and knee points.
The Rams might have higher free-agent choices, together with Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields. In 2024, Fields — choose No. 11 within the 2021 NFL Draft — went 4-2 in six begins earlier than Russell Wilson changed him.
Retaining Stafford — a Tremendous Bowl champion — ought to nonetheless be the Rams’ high precedence. Nonetheless, signing a veteran like Fields and drafting a QB (Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart) could possibly be a superb plan B.
Whereas McVay reportedly likes Garoppolo, banking on him as a viable alternative for Stafford appears too dangerous.
