Rams Linked to Top Big 12 QB as Matthew Stafford Insurance

Newsweek

a day ago

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The Los Angeles Rams kicked off their 2025 training camp in a position no NFL team likes to find itself in: not having a healthy starting quarterback.
Matthew Stafford has had his share of injuries over his 16-year NFL career (he's had 12 different injuries that have forced him to miss nine games since being acquired by L.A. in 2021), and given he turned 37 earlier this year, the Rams were presumably a bit panicked when he missed the first two weeks of camp and the team's first two preseason games with a lingering back injury.
Stafford returned to practice earlier this week, and head coach Sean McVay explained to reporters the team was being cautious in the way it eased the Pro Bowl QB back into the fold.
"The reality is we're trying to get our hands on this and get him to feel as good as possible," McVay said after practice on Tuesday. "Backs can be a volatile thing. ... But it certainly is trending in a positive direction for us."
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Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams prepares for the snap during the first half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in...
Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams prepares for the snap during the first half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MoreStafford agreed to a reworked contract back in May that gives him much more guaranteed money for 2025 and allows the Rams to decide whether or not to renew on a year-by-year basis.
Given his age and track record with injuries, some believe the Rams could look to find Stafford's successor sooner rather than later.
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ESPN's Field Yates is one of them, and he believes L.A. will use one of its two first-round picks in the 2026 draft to take Arizona State star QB Sam Leavitt to groom to take over for Stafford eventually.
"The Rams can capitalize on a bonus first-round pick after Atlanta traded up for James Pearce Jr. in the 2025 draft," Yates wrote. "It's not clear whether Matthew Stafford will be playing in 2026, but the Rams can add his heir apparent at the draft either way. Leavitt is an innovator, showing exceptional poise, moxie and creativity under duress.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt #10 of the Arizona State Sun Devils scrambles and avoids a tackle for positive yards during the second half of the 2025 Peach Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinals football game featuring the...
Quarterback Sam Leavitt #10 of the Arizona State Sun Devils scrambles and avoids a tackle for positive yards during the second half of the 2025 Peach Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinals football game featuring the University of Texas Longhorns versus the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. More"The redshirt sophomore is a talented thrower and very strong runner. He had at least three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in five of his final seven matchups last season, and he finished with 443 rushing yards on the year. L.A. can start thinking about the future under center with this top-10 pick via Atlanta."
Leavitt, a redshirt sophomore, showed plenty of promise in his first year as the Sun Devils' starter. The 20-year-old QB threw for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he rushed for another 443 yards and five touchdowns.
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During a recent episode of ESPN's "First Draft," Yates compared Leavitt to Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who had quite the impressive rookie season in 2024 (3,775 yards passing, 29 touchdowns, 430 yards rushing, four rushing touchdowns.)
"Little bit of Bo Nix to him when it comes to the razzle-dazzle ability," Yates said. "Not as sudden as Bo was. ... But I really thought there was something to the toughness, the intangibles of Sam Leavitt — good arm, good size, good mobility."
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