[theramswire.usatoday.com] McVay: Rams will add a backup QB but don't need to draft one early

Cameron DaSilva
March 29, 2023 12:12 pm PT
Even with Matthew Stafford on a pricey contract for the next four years, the Los Angeles Rams would be wise to add a young quarterback behind him. Not only will they need one when Stafford ultimately retires, but he’s currently their only quarterback on the roster.

They obviously can’t go into OTAs and minicamp with Stafford as their only passer, so sooner or later, they’ll need to add a backup; Baker Mayfield is a Buccaneer and both John Wolford and Bryce Perkins are still free agents.

Sean McVay was asked about the Rams’ quarterback situation during his media session on Tuesday and he acknowledged their need for a No. 2 behind Stafford. He’s open to adding one in either the draft or free agency and has kept an eye on that position throughout the offseason.

“Obviously, Matthew is the only quarterback we have on the roster right now,” McVay said. “So in some form or fashion, we have to be able to address that, whether that’s via draft or free agency. And so those are things that we’re definitely monitoring.”

The Rams have 11 picks in the draft this year but eight of them are on Day 3. They don’t have a ton of premium capital with just three picks in the top 150, and given their abundance of roster needs, it’s hard to see them spending one of their top three picks on a quarterback who won’t play in 2023 or probably even 2024.

For that reason, McVay doesn’t think the Rams need to go out and draft a quarterback early on.

“I think you’re always looking to be able to add. I don’t know if we’ll necessarily need to do that. There’s a lot of different things that we have to address,” McVay said of whether the Rams will take a quarterback early. “So, being able to kind of prioritize those things, and then in a lot of instances, those decisions kind of unfold for you. I think you want to make sure that you have an appreciation for a lot of different players in this draft at a lot of different positions.”

As enticing as it would be to find their next franchise quarterback at No. 36, 69 or 77, the Rams probably won’t spend one of their early-round picks on a player at that position. They badly need pass rushers, cornerbacks, safeties and offensive linemen, which will probably take precedence in Rounds 2 and 3.

But should someone like Hendon Hooker fall down the board, Los Angeles might have to at least consider taking him.