Rams Predicted to Land ‘Innovator’ QB After Opportunistic Trade

The Los Angeles Rams’ top two quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo, are both well into their 30s, and reserves Dresser Winn and Stetson Bennett IV lack game experience. That could lead the Rams to an option like Sam Leavitt.

Leavitt is entering his redshirt sophomore season at Arizona State. ESPN’s Field Yates believes the Sun Devils QB could be one of the top passers in the 2026 class.

Yates projected Leavitt to the Rams with the No. 9 overall pick, courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons.

“The Rams can capitalize on a bonus first-round pick,” Yates wrote on August 20. “Leavitt is an innovator, showing exceptional poise, moxie and creativity under duress. 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.”

Leavitt passed for 2,885 yards, 24 TDs, and 6 INTs on 61.7% completion in 2024. He spent the 2023 season at Michigan State, finishing his freshman campaign with a 139-2-2 line on 65.2% completion.

Leavitt would give the Rams the dual-threat QB that head coach Sean McVay has teased interest in.

Sam Leavitt Could Replace Rams QB Matthew Stafford

The Rams’ interest in finding their quarterback of the future, be it Leavitt or otherwise, is not surprising. Stafford is 37 years old, has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, including this year’s training camp, and has spoken about retirement before.

The Rams have also entertained the idea of moving on from Stafford via trade, letting his camp sort out the two-time Pro Bowler’s value this past offseason.

They ultimately agreed on a re-worked contract, but Stafford’s time is closer to ending than not.

“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,” Yates wrote. “L.A. can start thinking about the future under center with this top-10 pick via Atlanta.”

Stafford is under contract for 2026 on a two-year, $84 million deal. He also suggested that he will return for what would be his 18th NFL season.

That would be good news for the Rams.

They have already begun their roster turnover on both sides of the ball, particularly with the defense.

Stafford returning for another year would allow the Rams to continue those efforts, adding Leavitt to the mix and allowing the would-be rookie to soak up as much knowledge as he can from one of the preeminent passers of his generation.

Rams Projected to Address Lingering Potential Problem Area

Leavitt would address a major issue for the Rams, but there is another that could end their 2024 season.

McVay has faith in the Rams’ current group of cornerbacks, but outside opinions continue to paint the group as a potential weak link in an otherwise title-worthy roster. Yates remedies that by projecting the Rams to select Georgia CB Daylen Everette with their pick at No. 27 overall.

“I went into the 2025 draft thinking cornerback was a key area of need for the Rams, but they didn’t take anyone at the position across six picks. I still think some reinforcements there would be helpful,” Yates wrote. “Everette’s excellent length and instincts around the football would boost the unit. He enters his third season as a starter for Georgia with four career picks. And although Everette does not have elite short-area quickness, his 6-foot-1 size and great defensive IQ make him a high-end coverage player.”

Starters Ahkello Witherspoon and Darious Williams are in their 30s.

Everette makes sense for the Rams as they plot their future, just as Leavitt would as a replacement for Stafford.