It’s no secret now that the Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is approaching the twilight of his career. Not just because he is 37 years old, or the rumors of his retirement have been floating around for a couple of years, but also because his wife admitted to the decline in his physicality.
The Rams currently have no replacement on the roster for Stafford, which could have some significant side effects moving forward. Stafford might continue playing for a couple of years, but the team needs to find a replacement sooner rather than later, and a deep quarterback class at the 2026 NFL Draft could be the perfect opportunity.
Matthew Stafford’s Decline Opens Door for Los Angeles Rams To Find Next Franchise QB
Last season marked a down year for Stafford, who was the 22nd-best quarterback in the league, according to PFN’s QB+ metric. However, he still supported the 11th-best offense in the league by PFN’s Offense+ metric.
While Stafford’s tank isn’t empty, it surely is getting there, and if PFSN NFL Draft analyst Brentley Weissman is proven correct, he will still have a decent season in 2025. However, the Rams have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it would be the perfect opportunity to draft his replacement.
“Matthew Stafford has been rumored to be considering retirement for the last few offseasons, and while he is back with the Rams for the 2025 season, it is very likely that he only has a few years left,” Weissman wrote. “Adding a young quarterback through the draft feels like a must for the Rams.”
Weissman predicted the Rams would use their top pick, in this case No. 10 from the Atlanta Hawks, who gave it up to trade back into the first round of the 2025 Draft, on South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
“LaNorris Sellers is an incredibly fun prospect who is oozing with potential,” Weissman noted. “He is thick, athletic, and has a rocket arm. He is able to make plays both within and out of structure and would be a great ball of clay for Sean McVay to try and mold.”
I’ve quite literally purchased all LaNorris Sellers stock that I can find. Even had them check the back to make sure there wasn’t any stock left.
This might have been the play that sparked the purchase spree.
pic.twitter.com/0f9KgJsURf— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) May 26, 2025
A four-star recruit, Sellers was thrust into the starting role as a redshirt freshman in 2024 after Spencer Rattler made the jump to the NFL. He presided over a 1-3 record in the team’s first four SEC matchups but persisted through adversity and led the Gamecocks in a six-game winning streak to close out the regular season. The streak culminated in a gutsy last-second win over 12th-ranked rival Clemson.
Sellers completed 196 of 299 passes (65.6%) for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions in 2024. On the ground, he contributed 674 rushing yards and seven additional TDs.
Analysts have hyped up his tools as out of this world, while many consider him the QB with the highest upside in the 2026 class. He stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 242 pounds with freakish athleticism and a cannon for an arm. If the 19-year-old can increase his production in 2025, there’s a chance the Rams may have to trade up into top five to select him.