All you have to do is look at the contract. It makes no sense to get rid of your franchise QB and leave yourself with no QB1 and a mountain of dead cap. Even in a trade, rarely does the trading team not still incur a dead cap hit. I've said it all along, that the Rams have to carry Stafford through 2024. That is when it's structured for him to retire or the Rams to otherwise move on. It's why all this speculation over Cousins is stupid IMO. He's just a year younger than Stafford. IMO the Rams want to get out of this high contract hell and move in a more sustainable direction. If they trade for a QB it would be for someone like Herbert who is young enough to warrant the length of the contract they would need to spread the cap hit.
I think they will draft a QB in the first round giving them that 5th year option. This will allow them to redshirt the new QB for a year before starting him in 2025. That would give him 4 years minimum as the Rams starter. I'm not sold on Caleb Williams as much as most people are. Have you looked at USC's offense? It's very basic and IMO Williams is basically a one maybe two read QB. I'm not convinced he reads the entire field which is a requirement in McVay's offense.
A better fit is Michael Penix who has better length at 6'3" with an NFL caliber arm with deep pass accuracy demanded in McVay's offense. Unlike Williams, Penix plays in an offense where he makes full field reads. He's also an excellent runner who must be accounted for but he's a pass first QB not a runner. The only concern is his injury history pre 2022. Last year he played injury free, and put up outstanding numbers. If he can stay healthy for a second consecutive year and again put up similar numbers he would be the better option than Williams because he's a better fit for McVay's offense. He's a high character guy, with a very good work ethic. We also know that the Rams scout the Washington program well.
They will have the assets to move up in the first round next year as well.
