Matthew Stafford has established himself as one of the NFL’s most respected quarterbacks throughout his career. As he enters the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Rams, he is approaching the latter stages of an impressive tenure. Earlier in the offseason, there was some uncertainty about Stafford’s future with the Rams, with speculation about a potential trade. Ultimately, Stafford and the Rams restructured his contract, ensuring he would remain with the team.
However, with Stafford now 37 years old, the Rams and head coach Sean McVay must begin planning for the future. To that end, recent draft predictions suggest the Rams are considering potential successors to Stafford.
Los Angeles Rams QB Succession Plan
Bill Bender of The Sporting News has proposed that the Rams might select Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe in the fourth round, with the No. 127 overall pick. “Former NFL general manager Mike Mayock sees the Rams as the best fit for Milroe (6-2, 217), and we can buy that,” Bender wrote. ” Stafford did revise his contract for 2025, and while the Rams might try to plan for the future, taking a quarterback in the first round could send a mixed message for 2025 (see: Atlanta, 2024).”
Bender’s analysis acknowledges that while Milroe demonstrated promise for the Crimson Tide, particularly as a runner with 20 touchdowns, he also struggled with turnovers in some of Alabama’s losses. Milroe’s 2024 season saw him complete 64.3% of his passes for 2,844 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, along with 726 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. However, Bender also notes Milroe’s intangibles, pointing out that he won the Campbell Trophy, also known as the “Academic Heisman.” Bender concludes, “We could see Sean McVay making this value pick here.”
Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. also sees the Rams addressing their future quarterback needs in the draft. Kiper’s latest mock draft projects the Rams to select Ohio State quarterback Will Howard with the No. 90 pick, envisioning him as a potential franchise quarterback. “They should have one eye to the future at quarterback considering Stafford is 37,” Kiper wrote. “Howard could learn behind Stafford and potentially develop into a starter. He threw 35 touchdown passes last season, but he also ran for seven scores.”
Howard’s college performance at Ohio State showcased his ability to produce impressive numbers. He completed 309 of 423 passes for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 175.3 passing efficiency rating. While his draft stock sees him entering the 2025 NFL Draft with relatively low expectations (ESPN ranking him as the No. 6 quarterback and the No. 98 player available), the Rams could offer an ideal environment for his development.
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After restructuring his deal, Stafford is under contract for two more seasons, with a four-year, $160 million contract. It remains uncertain whether the team will retain him beyond that, given he will be 39 years old by the start of the 2027 season. If a scenario where they draft and develop either Milroe or Howard comes to fruition, that quarterback could potentially have two years remaining on his rookie contract when the time comes to take over McVay’s offense.
Furthermore, any young quarterback drafted by the team would benefit from learning from Stafford, who has had a distinguished 16-year career. Stafford’s accolades include two Pro Bowl selections, the 2011 AP Comeback Player of the Year award, and a Super Bowl LVI victory.