Which QB should the Rams draft in the 1st Round next year?
- Thread starter RamsRock
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The goal is to win a Super Bowl. This Rams team already is arguably the best in the NFL, and we are not going to lose any key pieces this off-season. Other than Stafford, all of our key players are young and only improving. We have a rare opportunity to hit on 2 1st round picks, including one high one! Teams in our position rarely get to do so. Or we could trade down with one or both and hit on several (!) players in the first two rounds. We also could use another RB and this year's RB free agency class looks appealing to add someone to the committee.
If Stafford comes back, I'd rather run it back and use the picks to bolster the overall roster rather than use them to draft a QB of the future. The Raiders need a QB and will draft Mendoza at #1 overall. Past that, nobody in this year's draft class feels like a "can't miss" QB prospect such that I'd want to take him over prioritizing putting our chips in like we did in 2021-22. As good as the Rams are this year, 2026-27 feels like it should be our "peak" season with this core, barring injuries, which are always the wild card (just look at Green Bay). If next year goes like it should and it is hoped, then I'd like to double-down even more, and be aggressive at the trade deadline if any good fits are on the market.
If Stafford comes back, I'd rather run it back and use the picks to bolster the overall roster rather than use them to draft a QB of the future. The Raiders need a QB and will draft Mendoza at #1 overall. Past that, nobody in this year's draft class feels like a "can't miss" QB prospect such that I'd want to take him over prioritizing putting our chips in like we did in 2021-22. As good as the Rams are this year, 2026-27 feels like it should be our "peak" season with this core, barring injuries, which are always the wild card (just look at Green Bay). If next year goes like it should and it is hoped, then I'd like to double-down even more, and be aggressive at the trade deadline if any good fits are on the market.
In agreement with the entirety of your post. However to slice hairs I will add that there is no such thing as a can't miss prospect. I think Mendoza's the best QB prospect since Lawrence, however he may go to Vegas and shit the bed or require long years to develop like Lawrence has. Lawrence in the end may be a guy who can't get them over the hump to a title, or who will require more talent around him than the very best QBs. It truly is a lottery man.
But right now I am leaning the same way you are. Hit on the talent to support our current QB1 up high. Doesn't mean we can't take a flyer on a QB later who is a longer dev prospect, though. Which means we're gonna need to get into those projects.
So we can trade for Joe Burrow but not the #1 pick in the college draft is that what I'm reading?
Regardless that has nothing to do with where the "Manning Express" went to.
Are you serious?
First off, Joe Burrow can dictate where he goes and contract/cap space is a part of that equation along with who he's willing to play for.
Second, a bad team in need of a QB will not pass on a potential franchise QB that falls into their lap in the draft, and who is also cost controlled for 4 or 5 years.
You are better than that to make such a silly comment. Those are completely different situations.
Teams will trade more capital for Joe Burrow than for the 1st pick
I agree with that because he is a known commodity. Also, he will dictate where he goes.
Two things you know that was being funny. I've stated more times than you can count that Burrow can dictate where he goes with his no trade clause. I was the first one to even bring up that he had a no trade clause.
My comment was in regards to trading up. If we want to we can trade up there's no question about that so saying we can't trade up for the 1st pick next year isn't accurate. It just may cost the Rams a shit ton more than other teams but I'm pretty sure McSnead have shown that if they want somebody they will make an attempt to go get it.
That and I will continue to laugh at people via my posts who say it's easy to get Joe Burrow.
I am looking forward to watching Ty Simpson go up against Indiana. This will determine whether he is a possibility. Plays well, but not brilliantly and loses, he could be in range. Plays brilliantly and wins then he probably goes higher than where we pick which would require a big trade. Is he worth our first pick or a trade up? We are about to find out
I agree with your theory: if we can trade for Burrow, we can trade for any #1 pick.
That said, they may be willing to pay the price for Burrow because he's proven, but a draftee isn't, so there may a limit on a team's willingness to pay a steep price for a draft pick.
Might not be "easy" to get Burrow.
But you have got to believe Joe Burrow would give his left nut to come to the Rams. Most likely 2-3 Super Bowl shots if he can pull it off.
McVay and Snead are that good.
Still, I would rather draft a QB and have drafted players all around him.
Jackie Slater and Jack Youngblood are my favorite Rams for a reason. Only Rams.
Texas Tech is proof that an elite defensive front can only do so much for you. They played their asses off in the first half but that TT offense is hot garbage.
Finney's really something, btw, as a true freshman corner. To show out like he did is impressive.
I appreciate Moore's toughness at QB but he does a bit too much read option for my liking. Lot of projection with him for the team that takes him.
Finney's really something, btw, as a true freshman corner. To show out like he did is impressive.
I appreciate Moore's toughness at QB but he does a bit too much read option for my liking. Lot of projection with him for the team that takes him.
Agree with the front 7 comment but I think it's more pronounced in college because there are less QB's with the ability to mitigate it. You see it less, though by no means not at all, in the pros.
I think the ceiling with Moore is much higher than Mendoza but their floors are pretty even.
Mendoza's got a higher floor. He reads and anticipates very well. Moore's got a bit too much read option, screens, and schemed throws going on.
Saying Moore's ceiling is higher may be true but it's hard to say for sure. Mendoza's one weakness is his raw arm strength, I don't think he's in that top echelon in that regard but he has enough arm to nail the deep outs. Whereas with Moore will he process well at the NFL level? I consider that part of "upside." There's more at play with success in the NFL than arm strength. Also I don't know that Moore's arm is elite either in that strength category. I see a lot of people making that claim with him, but I don't see that in the throws he makes. His ball hangs at times just like many other QBs in this class.
A QB whose arm looks strong as hell to me is Milton. Also the Arizona St kid can wing the shit out of it at times. Moore's above average certainly but I don't see some amazing ceiling or floor with him. Doesn't mean you'll be wrong down the road. But I can't agree based on what I see on the field through the TV.
And once again we always come full circle to opinion on Mendoza. You have a higher impression of him than I and other people do. Most everybody outside of his ROD fans have him as the new version of Goff and Cousins. I don't see anything other than an average NFL QB especially with the lack of arm strength.
As for the read option stuff the same was said about Nix in that Oregon offense and he's really taken to the NFL game. I see more ability as a passer and arm strength from Moore and as much if not more mobility/running ability.
We're just going to have to agree to disagree on Mendoza though we've had this conversation multiple times
And it's good we can agree to disagree. I also would bet the house on the fact if he goes to the Raiders he's going to implode with that OL and coaching staff/organization.
Yes of course. I am fine with disagreement.And once again we always come full circle to opinion on Mendoza. You have a higher impression of him than I and other people do. Most everybody outside of his ROD fans have him as the new version of Goff and Cousins. I don't see anything other than an average NFL QB especially with the lack of arm strength.
As for the read option stuff the same was said about Nix in that Oregon offense and he's really taken to the NFL game. I see more ability as a passer and arm strength from Moore and as much if not more mobility/running ability.
We're just going to have to agree to disagree on Mendoza though we've had this conversation multiple times
The Goff comp is quite accurate really. Goff was a 1 overall pick who did not have an elite arm. Who wasn't great when moved off his spot. Mendoza is a bigger version of him to my eye, and a little smoother and tougher in reads and pocket presence. But they are similar in their strengths. And Goff has largely been a success.
Now we could get into the seemingly endless list of athletic QBs who read option their way into the NFL and how many of them become successful. And these things are subjective even in what we define as success, so it would be quite the back and forth as QB always is. But the truth is with any of those guys there is even more projection than what you have with the QB who wins from the pocket.
Goff btw was also much more athletic than most realized. And I'd say one of his problems is that he doesn't have great instincts on when to run. You can measure the foot speed, but does he sieze the moment when it's there or does he delay and hurt the potential gainer. Mendoza's not elite there either, but I think he's a bit better in his instincts on when to run. And all of this is why I think he's such a good prospect, because he can start soon for a team and has plenty of upside on top of it. It's a real nice combo in a QB prospect given some of the shit we see go in round 1 nowadays.
If I'm wrong, won't be the last time either. Just my .02 on the two, and also on the way that upside tends to get thrown around a bit too much with this position in particular and it's how you end up with Richardson at 3 overall.
I think trading up in the draft has a few obstacles. First, teams picking higher have more to offer in just being able to give a top 4 or 5 pick this year and the likleyhood that they would have a high #1 next year. Not to mention they would have a higher #2 this year and teams like the Jets & Browns also have two #1's this year.
You also may have a team like the Giants that would prefer to send that pick to an AFC team. If the Titans were sitting where a top QB falls to, that team could be a trade partner, but they won't get a top 2 pick where Mendiza ir Moore would be picked.
Guys like Simpson, if he comes out, is not a clear cut candidate worth trading up for.