The backup quarterback situation for your Los Angeles Rams has been somewhat of an issue behind Matthew Stafford over the past couple seasons.
Either through free agency or a trade, general manager Les Snead and Co. had to rectify that to an extent this offseason.
They did just that on Friday. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, the Rams have signed veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a one-year contract.
As it relates to backup quarterback news, this is some stunning stuff. Garopplo, 32, played for the rival San Francisco 49ers from 2017-22. He led San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance following the 2020 season and was on the losing end against these Rams in the 2021 NFC Championship Game.
Most recently, Garoppolo spent one season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Yes, another supposed rival. He was benched after Antonio Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels as the Raiders’ head coach seven games into the season.
- Jimmy Garoppolo career stats: 67.4% completion, 15,494 yards, 94 TD, 51 INT
Garoppolo was an original second-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2014 NFL Draft. He spent pars of four seasons as Tom Brady’s backup before being traded to San Francisco midway through the 2017 campaign.
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Impact Of The Los Angeles Rams Signing Jimmy Garoppolo
It could be huge in the grand scheme of things given the injuries Stafford has dealt with over the past couple seasons.
From a broader perspective, a ton of teams lost starting quarterbacks for large durations of the 2023 NFL season. Being able to get a backup with 63 career starts under his belt is no small thing.
Despite his average play throughout a 10-year NFL career, Garoppolo does boast a combined 43-20 record as a starter. That can’t be lost in all of this.
I am also pretty sure that he’d like to exact revenge against the 49ers if given an opportunity this coming season.