“Rams Keep Cards Close to Chest: Are They Gearing Up for a QB Draft Surprise?”

The Los Angeles Rams, an NFL team known for their strategic prowess, are at a critical juncture as they navigate the quarterback situation with Matthew Stafford. Stafford, who was brought in to lead the team in 2021, finds himself in an interesting position year after year; his contract is set up in a way that each season could potentially be his last with the Rams. This arrangement isn’t just a curiosity but a strategic move, one that could pivot the team’s future in the quarterback lineup.

Now, with the curtains half-open on another NFL Draft, the air is pregnant with possibilities. Could this be the year the Rams decide to roll the dice on a fresh face at QB? General Manager Les Snead, the master of draft-day machinations, has been tiptoeing around the topic. At a recent press conference, he reinforced the complexity of selecting quarterbacks, stating, “If you’re going to get down and go down the quarterback path, that’s an entirely different bucket based on all the requirements it takes to play QB in this league at a successful rate.”

However, the Rams aren’t just any team. They’re known for keeping their cards close to the chest and making moves that catch the league off guard. If they do decide to draft a quarterback, one thing’s for certain: the conversation will start with Matthew Stafford himself. Coach Sean McVay, ever the communicator, has a track record of keeping his key players in the loop, famously ensuring Stafford was aware of the draft plans when they picked up Stetson Bennett.

This approach stands in stark contrast to other franchises where the incumbent quarterback has been left in the dark, blindsided by new arrivals. Just consider Aaron Rodgers back with the Packers or even last year’s surprise with Kirk Cousins and the Falcons. But with the Rams, there’s an underlying respect for the QB role’s weight, the kind of respect that has me pondering, “What’s the strategy here?”

So as the draft nears, we’re all on tenterhooks, watching and waiting for signs from Les Snead and the Rams’ front office. One thing is clear: if any quarterback gets a heads-up on the rise of a new star, it’ll be Stafford.

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Not every team extends that courtesy to the incumbent. Most notably, the Packers didn’t let Aaron Rodgers know they’d be taking his eventual replacement, Jordan Love, in round one. Last year, the Falcons caught Kirk Cousins (and everyone else) flatfooted when they drafted Michael Penix Jr.It also means that, in any year, the Rams could draft Stafford’s eventual successor. The Rams have a year-to-year arrangement with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Which means that any year could be the last year for the quarterback who arrived in 2021.“I think there have been a lot of instances where you never regret overcommunicating and creating clarity for people as opposed to why,” coach Sean McVay said. “When we drafted Stetson Bennett a couple of years ago, I made sure to communicate with [Stafford] beforehand. You want to be as inclusive as you can, especially to players who are in his position. That would be something that we would do, just like we did when we drafted Stetson a couple of years ago.”So we’ll see. As will everyone one. But if anyone gets advance notice, it’ll be Stafford.

If they opt to pick a quarterback, they’ll be sure to let Stafford know about it.“I don’t think I could truly answer that honestly so I’ll keep that internal, how we view it,” Snead told reporters. “The only thing I can add or any insight would be when you prepare for a draft, however many other positions there are and it can get pretty micro and nuanced. . . . If you’re going to get down and go down the quarterback path, that’s an entirely different bucket based on all the requirements it takes to play QB in this league at a successful rate.”During Tuesday’s pre-draft press conference, G.M. Les Snead addressed the possibility of adding a quarterback from the incoming ranks of rookies.