All off-season, there have been rumors swirling about a potential breakup between Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. NFL insider Tom Pelissero confirmed those rumors on Friday, Feb. 21, reporting that the Rams have allowed Stafford to seek a trade.
If the Rams do lose Stafford, they likely will look to find a replacement in the 2025 NFL Draft. Take a look at which 2025 NFL Draft prospects we think could be potential Matthew Stafford replacements.
Potential Matthew Stafford Replacements in the 2025 NFL Draft
If the Rams were to ship out Stafford, they’d likely get a first-round pick in return so while they currently hold the 26th pick in the draft, for these purposes we’ll say that all QBs will be at their disposal.
1) Cam Ward, Miami
Cam Ward seems to be the consensus best quarterback in the the 2025 draft class, so if the Rams traded Stafford for a high first-round pick, I think that he’d be at the top of their board.
Ward has a live arm and is deadly accurate. While he’s not the most mobile quarterback, he has the ability to navigate the pocket very well and extend plays. Ward is calm cool and collected under pressure and shouldn’t face too many issues transitioning from college ball to the NFL. He’d fit in McVay’s system well and be a great replacement to Stafford.
MORE: 2025 NFL Draft QB Rankings
2) Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
I’m not high on Shedeur Sanders at all and truthfully do not think he’s close to a first-round talent. However, if there was an NFL system that I think he could succeed in at a high level, it’d be McVay’s.
Sanders doesn’t have high-level arm talent, but he is very accurate. He processes information well and is methodical in going from read to read. Like Ward, Sanders doesn’t have top-tier mobility, but he’s not a statue either. I think that in McVay’s system which is full of quick passes and throwing the ball over the middle, Sanders would be a great fit.
3) Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Unlike the other two quarterbacks, the Rams likely would not have to use a first-round pick on McCord, but if they could pick him up later on day two I think the Syracuse legend would be a great fit in McVay’s offense.
I think McCord and Sanders are actually pretty similar prospects. McCord doesn’t have that top-tier NFL arm talent, but he’s smart, accurate, and crafty from the pocket. If McVay got his hands on McCord I think the sky’s the limit for what he could do with the Rams. Maybe the Stafford deep splash plays would be gone, but McCord could be just as efficient.
4) Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Jaxson Dart would be less of a fit in Los Angeles than Sanders or McCord but from a pure talent standpoint, he’s got more tools. If McVay could limit the mistakes from Dart, he could become a high-level starter for the Rams.
Dart may have the best arm in this draft class but is more inaccurate and not as consistent as some of the other prospects around him. His footwork can be sloppy, and in Ole Miss’ offense, he wasn’t asked to go through progressions as much as other prospects. He’s certainly a project, but if anyone could develop him, it’d be McVay.
Also See: Scouting Reports on the Top 100 Players in the 2025 NFL Draft
5) Will Howard, Ohio State
Will Howard is an interesting prospect for the Rams, and if they wanted to they could pick up on late day 2 or even maybe early day three. I think he’s similar to Stetson Bennett who is currently on the Rams, but again you’re not investing too much into him with a third-round pick.
Howard has a solid arm, but like a lot of the other QBs in this class, it isn’t really NFL-level. Howard is accurate, but not as consistent as McCord or Sanders. He’s mobile enough but doesn’t have elite running ability. It wouldn’t be my first pick for the Rams, but if he was available at the end of round three, using a pick on him would be worth it.
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