There are three-plus months until the 2024 NFL draft, and for the first time since 2016, the Los Angeles Rams will get to participate in the first round. There are several positions they could address with the 19th overall pick, and quarterback can’t be ruled out.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah released his first mock draft of the year and though he has the Rams taking UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu in the first round, he “wouldn’t rule out a quarterback with this pick.”
I wouldn’t rule out a quarterback with this pick. The Rams could follow the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordan Love blueprint and begin developing a passer behind Matthew Stafford. If they don’t go that route, continuing to add pass rushers would be a smart move.
Stafford is returning for another season in 2024, something both he and Sean McVay have confirmed in the last week. The Rams couldn’t be happier to have their veteran quarterback leading the way again in 2024, but they also know the reality of his injury history and age.
Stafford will be 36 in February and he’s dealt with various injuries in each of the last three years, all to varying degrees. Retirement is approaching at some point for Stafford, too, and the Rams have no contingency plan in place.
Stetson Bennett’s future is unclear after missing the entire season on the non-football illness list, and the Rams can’t say for certain that he’ll be on the team in 2024.
Los Angeles won’t have a chance to draft any of the top quarterbacks at No. 19, with most of them being gone by then, but Les Snead could make a bold trade up to snag a quarterback he likes.
In Jeremiah’s mock draft, the closest quarterback to No. 19 is Bo Nix, who he has going to the Saints at No. 14. Other than that, he has three more quarterbacks all going in the top three. There’s a lot of time between now and the draft, so it’s possible one of the quarterbacks will fall to the Rams, but we can’t rule out a trade up, either.