Which QB should the Rams draft next year and where?

[Merlin]

Kind of an old piece, but high praise and Draft hype here for QB Cole Payton. SOME feel he's QB2, most feel he's a 2nd Round pick with a slight chance for bottom 1st.

Exclusive: North Dakota State’s Cole Payton Drawing Draft Hype, Seen as QB2 in 2026

North Dakota State QB Cole Payton is impressing scouts, with some seeing him as the second-best QB in the draft behind Fernando Mendoza. Despite being off the radar, his athleticism, size, and decision-making are drawing high praise. Payton could be a steal in the upcoming NFL draft.

www.sportsboom.us

He's a QB3 for a year at least. Then maybe a QB2 if he picks the offense up quickly. Prob with him is he's all projection. But I think he's still a nice fit for us, and it seems like we have good board agreement on him in that regard.

But if some team throws him in their offense early and relies on him it's gonna get fuckin ugly.

By the way the Nuss, Klub etc types offer a QB2 a bit quicker in terms of dev I think. Which is really what we need for now, and those guys do have a chance to develop as a starter but are just longshots. However Payton is also a longshot as a starter. So Rams will probably take the dude who impresses them most in interviews and whiteboard grilling by the Rams staff.

 

[Coliseum Ram]

He's a QB3 for a year at least. Then maybe a QB2 if he picks the offense up quickly. Prob with him is he's all projection. But I think he's still a nice fit for us, and it seems like we have good board agreement on him in that regard.

But if some team throws him in their offense early and relies on him it's gonna get fuckin ugly.

By the way the Nuss, Klub etc types offer a QB2 a bit quicker in terms of dev I think. Which is really what we need for now, and those guys do have a chance to develop as a starter but are just longshots. However Payton is also a longshot as a starter. So Rams will probably take the dude who impresses them most in interviews and whiteboard grilling by the Rams staff.

That would prolly be Simpson then....

 

[WestCoastRam]

Kind of an old piece, but high praise and Draft hype here for QB Cole Payton. SOME feel he's QB2, most feel he's a 2nd Round pick with a slight chance for bottom 1st.

Exclusive: North Dakota State’s Cole Payton Drawing Draft Hype, Seen as QB2 in 2026

North Dakota State QB Cole Payton is impressing scouts, with some seeing him as the second-best QB in the draft behind Fernando Mendoza. Despite being off the radar, his athleticism, size, and decision-making are drawing high praise. Payton could be a steal in the upcoming NFL draft.

www.sportsboom.us

Curious who thinks he's QB2 or has a chance to go in the 1st??

 

[dieterbrock]

Curious who thinks he's QB2 or has a chance to go in the 1st??

Raymond Boddee’s brother Noah

 

[Coliseum Ram]

Just saw Daniel Jeremiah on Path To The Draft. They asked him who are the next best QB's in Class after Mendoza and Simpson.

Named Carson Beck who he really likes, 37 Wins, not starts, WINS. Then named Drew Allar. Said Penn State's Receivers were NOT good.

I would way love a 3rd Round pick on one of these 2 above guys.

 

[jrry32]

Just saw Daniel Jeremiah on Path To The Draft. They asked him who are the next best QB's in Class after Mendoza and Simpson.

Named Carson Beck who he really likes, 37 Wins, not starts, WINS. Then named Drew Allar. Said Penn State's Receivers were NOT good.

I would way love a 3rd Round pick on one of these 2 above guys.

I would prefer not to waste a third round pick.

 

[Ram Ts]

I would prefer not to waste a third round pick.

 

[jrry32]

Allar is the sort of QB teams talk themselves into overdrafting. He's big, he has a strong arm, and he's fairly athletic for his size. He looks like a NFL QB . . . until you watch him play. Teams convince themselves they can be the one to fix him because his college staff did him no favors, yadda, yadda, yadda. And then when Allar gets to the NFL, the team that overdrafts him realizes that the underwhelming film (after years of starting experience) is a result of him simply not having the goods.

Carson Beck does nothing for me. Mediocre athlete and a mediocre arm. Physically, he has the talent of a career backup. The problem with Beck is that he doesn't have the character of a career backup. He's also turnover prone.

 

[kmramsfan]

I would prefer not to waste a third round pick.

Me too.
I'd rather see who's there at LB, OL or DL.

 

[TheTackle]

Perhaps now that the dust is starting to settle, we need a poll?

I would guess the majority might say no QB this year and focus on all in

I hope we draft Simpson, especially if we can trade down a few spots, but either way, 5 years on pick 13 money is worth the risk IMO as, with some seasoning and strength coaching, he can be great in the right system like ours. There will be a great WR prospect at 61

Outside of those two positions, where else do we NEED starters? I don't see too many weaknesses

Depth at OT would be smart

LB possibly or CB, that's about it

We can address depth players with our next picks - including a special teams ace returner

As others have said, we do not need to make many picks on a deep squad, so why not take a gamble on a starting QB?

 

[dang]

Perhaps now that the dust is starting to settle, we need a poll?

I would guess the majority might say no QB this year and focus on all in

I hope we draft Simpson, especially if we can trade down a few spots, but either way, 5 years on pick 13 money is worth the risk IMO as, with some seasoning and strength coaching, he can be great in the right system like ours. There will be a great WR prospect at 61

Outside of those two positions, where else do we NEED starters? I don't see too many weaknesses

Depth at OT would be smart

LB possibly or CB, that's about it

We can address depth players with our next picks - including a special teams ace returner

As others have said, we do not need to make many picks on a deep squad, so why not take a gamble on a starting QB?

Regarding bolded questions:
Starters needed: WR2B (who can transition to WR2 by end of season), ILB1B (who can pass cover TE/RBs), ST gunner (who can contain Shaheen among others).
QB Drafted: OK with drafting a QB project with late pick to compete with Bennett but can’t use the R1 or R2 picks. Which means they is a 2% chance finding a Stafford successor in this years draft.

 

[TheTackle]

Regarding bolded questions:
Starters needed: WR2B (who can transition to WR2 by end of season), ILB1B (who can pass cover TE/RBs), ST gunner (who can contain Shaheen among others).
QB Drafted: OK with drafting a QB project with late pick to compete with Bennett but can’t use the R1 or R2 picks. Which means they is a 2% chance finding a Stafford successor in this years draft.

You are not alone so I respect what you say. If Simpson develops into a top QB as many think he might we could be kicking ourselves next year

I guess it depends on how McVay feels about Simpson but in terms of your priorities, they seem to gel pretty well with mine.

I see a developmental OT and C (in a good draft for them) as two others

 

[Merlin]

I would rather reach for a big body wideout I like, even if he's a project like Bryce Lance, than settle for a small slot.

I'd take the QB midrounds, rather than expend higher draft resources on a player who is not going to factor in for us in 2026.

I'd look hard for a Center in round 3, and I am sweet on Slaughter.

If I don't go WR at 13, I would go with one of the big NTs in McDonald or Miller. I think both those dudes start year one and relegate Ford to rotation, which would work really well.

Round 2 is a bit of a wheelhouse for ILB in this draft I think. Or wideout.

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://youtu.be/_5M7d1XfDPc?si=noMneBPJw8DD235k

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I wonder what it would take to get McCarthy from Minnesota? Then signing two QBs is kind of telling, but last season was basically a rookie year, and he looked like a rookie out there. If we could snag him for cheap and let him sit behind Stafford, it could be beneficial for long term success… and he knows the system…

No thanks, he's straight ass

 

[Allen2McVay]

No thanks, he's straight ass

 

[TSFH Fan]

View: https://youtu.be/_5M7d1XfDPc?si=noMneBPJw8DD235k

More of a regular QB review than actually "identifying" "busts" as indicated in the title. (click here). KW discusses the importance of reps., generally at @17:40 and QB specific at 30:00.

Somewhat related to @31:30

View: https://x.com/CFB_Dalton/status/2041159640138850734

 

[TheTackle]

I would rather reach for a big body wideout I like, even if he's a project like Bryce Lance, than settle for a small slot.

I'd take the QB midrounds, rather than expend higher draft resources on a player who is not going to factor in for us in 2026.

I'd look hard for a Center in round 3, and I am sweet on Slaughter.

If I don't go WR at 13, I would go with one of the big NTs in McDonald or Miller. I think both those dudes start year one and relegate Ford to rotation, which would work really well.

Round 2 is a bit of a wheelhouse for ILB in this draft I think. Or wideout.

I like the look of Slaughter. He’s someone who could come in and start for 10 years!

That said, I don’t trust these mock draft websites that have him listed outside the top 100 but if he lasts until pick 93, he should be firmly on our radar.

If he will truly be there in the 5th round, and it somehow comes to pass, I would trade up for him in a heartbeat

 

[TheTackle]

More of a regular QB review than actually "identifying busts" as indicated in the title. KW discusses the importance of reps., generally at @17:40 and QB specific at 30:00.

Somewhat related to @31:30

View: https://x.com/CFB_Dalton/status/2041159640138850734

So you are saying Kubiak should be no 1, or am I reading that wrong

I know you are not keen on Simpson but that is a selling point. He looked good making reads having had his back to play. That is something other college QBs struggle with (forever on the way to busting). It’s a major reason that so many round one QBs struggled and only a handful rescue their career as a starter

It ain’t easy unless you are great at quickly processing reads and making good decisions. It also leads many to take the easy check down rather than be aggressive. Those are two of his major strengths! He pulls the trigger and is comfortable making tough chunk plays over the middle. Does that sound like a QB we know and love?

Am I convincing you yet?

 

[Coliseum Ram]

So you are saying Kubiak should be no 1, or am I reading that wrong

I know you are not keen on Simpson but that is a selling point. He looked good making reads having had his back to play. That is something other college QBs struggle with (forever on the way to busting). It’s a major reason that so many round one QBs struggled and only a handful rescue their career as a starter

It ain’t easy unless you are great at quickly processing reads and making good decisions. It also leads many to take the easy check down rather than be aggressive. Those are two of his major strengths! He pulls the trigger and is comfortable making tough chunk plays over the middle. Does that sound like a QB we know and love?

Am I convincing you yet?

Simpson has shown the most pro-style traits in College.