Which QB should the Rams draft in the 1st Round next year?

[Memphis Ram]

I've been contemplating the idea that they trade Young this offseason. It all depends on Stafford.

If his last season is 2026, maybe they can afford to sign all of their young players since the new QB will be inexpensive, but if Stafford is playing into 2027 and maybe beyond, they'll probably have to let some of them go.

If they trade Young for lets say a mid-late 1st, I definitely can see them making their early 1st pick an edge. If they are taking an edge, I'd like to see a true edge, not a hybrid 5 tech guy.

IMO, unless he's holding out and asking for Micah Parsons money, the Rams would be nuts to deal Young.

 

[DzRams]

IMO, unless he's holding out and asking for Micah Parsons money, the Rams would be nuts to deal Young.

If he's asking for 85% of Parson's money, that's still $40 mil. per year.

Only the Rams know if they can afford everyone if Stafford plays for a few more years. Assuming he does play into 2027 and the team internally determines that they won't be able to keep everyone, how would you go about it?

Potential large money expenses for 2027: Resigning Lake, Curl, and Durant. Extensions for Puka, Turner, Avila, and Young followed by Verse and Fiske the next year. If you wouldn't deal Young, what do you do? Who do you let go?

 

[Memphis Ram]

If he's asking for 85% of Parson's money, that's still $40 mil. per year.

Only the Rams know if they can afford everyone if Stafford plays for a few more years. Assuming he does play into 2027 and the team internally determines that they won't be able to keep everyone, how would you go about it?

Potential large money expenses for 2027: Resigning Lake, Curl, and Durant. Extensions for Puka, Turner, Avila, and Young followed by Verse and Fiske the next year. If you wouldn't deal Young, what do you do? Who do you let go?

My guess is that Stafford will be done by the time Verse and Fiske are up for new deals.

As of today my priority in order would be:
Puka
Young
McClendon (if he continues to play well)

The others would be easier to replace if suitable deals couldn't be had, IMO.

 

[DzRams]

My guess is that Stafford will be done by the time Verse and Fiske are up for new deals.

As of today my priority in order would be:
Puka
Young
McClendon (if he continues to play well)

The others would be easier to replace if suitable deals couldn't be had, IMO.

Forgot about McClendon and Dotson, both of whom will need new contracts in 2027.

I don't have a problem with your priority list except I'm not sure I'd put McClendon over Turner and Avila.

At any rate, I think we have to balance selling a player or two early for a high price like Dallas did with Parsons versus allowing some of them to walk in free agency because I don't think they can retain them all.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Forgot about McClendon and Dotson, both of whom will need new contracts in 2027.

I don't have a problem with your priority list except I'm not sure I'd put McClendon over Turner and Avila.

At any rate, I think we have to balance selling a player or two early for a high price like Dallas did with Parsons versus allowing some of them to walk in free agency because I don't think they can retain them all.

right now I think you resign Dotson over Avila

 

[DzRams]

right now I think you resign Dotson over Avila

Understandable since he's the stronger player right now. He's definitely rated slightly higher.

But he'll be 30 next year when his contract runs out. Avila will be 27, and he may still be ascending. Tough call.

 

[Merlin]

Dotson's been an anchor on this line. No doubter. The rest I hope the Rams don't overpay them.

 

[RamFan503]

Understandable since he's the stronger player right now. He's definitely rated slightly higher.

But he'll be 30 next year when his contract runs out. Avila will be 27, and he may still be ascending. Tough call.

Avila may be an easy sign. We should be able to sign both.

 

[Ram Ts]

Avila may be an easy sign. We should be able to sign both.

That’s a big part of the equation. It’s takes two - a willing person to sign. As opposed to wanting the most money possible. Which I don’t blame guys doing. We wanted to resign Von Miller, but he wanted the money. it became too much for us & we let him go.

 

[DzRams]

Avila may be an easy sign. We should be able to sign both.

I'm curious on why you feel he may be easy to sign.

For reference purposes, Dotson and Avila are the 4th and 5th highest rated guards respectively in the entire league. And Avila has allowed the fewest pressures (sacks+hurries+hits) amongst guards. Those numbers equate to both being highly paid.

 

[PhillyRam]

I'm curious on why you feel he may be easy to sign.

For reference purposes, Dotson and Avila are the 4th and 5th highest rated guards respectively in the entire league. And Avila has allowed the fewest pressures (sacks+hurries+hits) amongst guards. Those numbers equate to both being highly paid.

I think the "quiet benching" of Avila earlier this year woke him up and got him to lock in. When they played Dedich for a few weeks after Avila was healthy, I think that was meant to send a message.

Avila seems like a good kid, seems to have a lot of fun. Maybe he just wasn't focusing enough at the task at hand. Since he's come back he has been excellent.

 

[RamFan503]

I'm curious on why you feel he may be easy to sign.

For reference purposes, Dotson and Avila are the 4th and 5th highest rated guards respectively in the entire league. And Avila has allowed the fewest pressures (sacks+hurries+hits) amongst guards. Those numbers equate to both being highly paid.

Due to the inconsistencies, due to injury or not. That's all. He started 10 games last season and 9 so far this season.

I like him quite a lot and he had a very impressive rookie season. He's come on lately but was a little shaky at the beginning of the season. Our entire O-line is gelling and playing some pretty good football right now. I'm just not sure he can garner a huge contract as some sort of vital cog. And he and Shelton may be the "easiest" to replace. I hope they get something done to keep him on the team. I just don't think he can command elite guard money.

 

[dieterbrock]

Trying to keep this on topic....

Transfer portal QB tracker 2026: Latest news on Dylan Raiola, Sam Leavitt and others on the move | Sporting News

The Sporting News is tracking all of the quarterback movement in the college football transfer portal.

www.sportingnews.com

 

[WarlordJC]

Anything is possible.

That said McClendon is nice but is signed for one more year. With the recent drafts we could use his extension money elsewhere. Add to that both those guys are upgrades and McSnead are about making the team better.

Forbes and Durant have been pretty good. But how good is the secondary if they're #2 and #3? And again it makes the team better.

The one trait McVay always stresses at WR is route running. They have to be where they're supposed to be. Even more than blocking that's what he stresses, its what he said they liked about Mumpfield. With Adams aging and his recent comment on a podcast tying him to Stafford playing a WR is always an option.

Edge is the one spot we're really good at and have spent draft capital. It's always a possibility, they could draft one instead of retain Young. Who knows anything is possible.

One position I see us drafting for sure is safety. Too many pending free sgents.

All I look at is what makes the team better, I'm not tied to any player. And the Rams under Snead have generally drafted for a position a year before its agents.

The only certain thing here is nobody on ROD knows what they'll draft and its mo ths away from happening.

Right, no one knows--not even Snead or McVay at this point. I think they'll hit all positions in the draft. One thing I hope they don't do is burn picks to trade up--they just aren't very good at it. They traded up for LB Paul Jr., DT Hamilton, and RB Hunter, and they all look like mistakes so far--yeah, it's early for Hunter. I do like him.

 

[WarlordJC]

Hard to say what the team might do based upon past actions as the McSnead combination has never had a top 10 pick.

As far as another team trading up for a QB, if I'm that team's GM, I'm not calling the Rams. I'm calling the teams ahead of the Rams for fear that the Rams might take my guy given Stafford's age.

I also believe that the Rams will probably re-sign McClendon if he keeps up his play. Either way, with him signed through 2026 I doubt that they would use so high a selection on a 2026 backup non-QB. They are going to want to maximize the Stafford window.

CB could be in play. When the Rams drafted Rochelle, they already had Jalen Ramsey. Besides most of the secondary are set to be free agents after this season. That's Durant, Witherspoon, McCreary, Lake, & Curl. Plus Darious Williams will be 33 years old.

RB probably not happening as Corum is signed through 2027 and Williams is signed through 2028. And they really liked Hunter. WR? That's an option given Adams age and contract status. At one point I thought TE could be an option given Oregon TE Sadiq looks like a stud, but Parkinson has stepped up and they just took Henderson.

Agreed on most points! McClendon is apparently #1 pass blocker at OT (yes, I know it doesn't mean much) in the entire NFL according to NextGen stats: "McClendon has allowed the lowest pressure rate (1.9%) and is tied for the lowest sack rate allowed (0%) in the league among offensive tackles with at least 200 snaps this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats (h/t Wyatt Miller). It's hard to be better than best, and McClendon has looked like an elite tackle and ahead of some of the better players in the NFL."

I think they do need DBs, and I'm sure they'll add a few, but they have been so successful at late round and undrafted guys at DB, it'll be interesting to see if they go with a CB high--Rochelle was drafted in R4 at 130.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I think the "quiet benching" of Avila earlier this year woke him up and got him to lock in. When they played Dedich for a few weeks after Avila was healthy, I think that was meant to send a message.

Avila seems like a good kid, seems to have a lot of fun. Maybe he just wasn't focusing enough at the task at hand. Since he's come back he has been excellent.

There are few injuries where you just wake up one day and you're 100%. McVay always waits for return-to-performance. Anyway the point where our O started to take off and Staff looked really comfortable was when Avila returned fully healthy and RTG.

 

[JonRam99]

Beginning to think, the transition plan is Burrow. He 'retires' in '26, and gets conscripted in '27 after 9 gets 1 - 2 more rings & retires.
Lots of good talent available when we pick in the 1st round. A WR might be a good choice, I don't see any DB's getting talked up as high as our 1st pick will be. Other "need" picks (OG, NT) can be had in later rounds.

 

[OldSchool]

Beginning to think, the transition plan is Burrow. He 'retires' in '26, and gets conscripted in '27 after 9 gets 1 - 2 more rings & retires.
Lots of good talent available when we pick in the 1st round. A WR might be a good choice, I don't see any DB's getting talked up as high as our 1st pick will be. Other "need" picks (OG, NT) can be had in later rounds.

If he retires and comes back a year later or two he's still under contract with Cincinnati

 

[Merlin]

If he has the balls to "retire" and write off a season in his prime, the Bungles will blink. I'd move him myself in that situation. Just hire an AI company to help me crunch the fuckin cap.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Agreed on most points! McClendon is apparently #1 pass blocker at OT (yes, I know it doesn't mean much) in the entire NFL according to NextGen stats: "McClendon has allowed the lowest pressure rate (1.9%) and is tied for the lowest sack rate allowed (0%) in the league among offensive tackles with at least 200 snaps this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats (h/t Wyatt Miller). It's hard to be better than best, and McClendon has looked like an elite tackle and ahead of some of the better players in the NFL."

I think they do need DBs, and I'm sure they'll add a few, but they have been so successful at late round and undrafted guys at DB, it'll be interesting to see if they go with a CB high--Rochelle was drafted in R4 at 130.

I don't know. Need may have a say. Prior later round selections weren't necessary needed as immediate starters as the team had Ramsey for a few years and have hit on relatively inexpensive free agents (BTW, CB David Long was a 3rd rounder drafted before Rochelle). The problem now is most of the secondary is up for free agency in 2026 or probably aging out (Williams). Of course, they could go the free agent route again.