The Los Angeles Rams aren’t in the market for a new quarterback yet, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do some window shopping. Matthew Stafford will return for one more season in 2026, but his future after next season is cloudy at best.
While Los Angeles could land its future franchise quarterback in the 2026 draft, there’s another avenue they can take: the trade market. While many names have been touted, two analysts at NFL.com believe Anthony Richardson should be a good fit for the Rams.
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Mark Ross and Maurice Jones-Drew both selected Los Angeles as the “ideal landing spot” for Richardson, who recently requested a trade from the Colts after his third season.
Ross believes Richardson has a lot to learn under Stafford and can rejuvenate his stock with Sean McVay as head coach.
“Richardson’s situation is a Catch-22. He has so little game experience that he needs to play to develop, but he still isn’t ready to play at a consistent enough level to win as a starter,” Rose wrote. Therefore, a role with the Rams would be an ideal landing spot. He would learn from reigning MVP Matthew Stafford in Sean McVay’s offense, and the only other quarterback currently on the roster is Stetson Bennett, who is 124 behind Richardson in the 2023 draft. position. Hopefully, Richardson will emerge like one of the top quarterbacks available in free agency this offseason, Malik Willis, who has made huge strides under Matt LaFleur (the same offense McVay did in Los Angeles).”
Jones-Drew agreed, noting that other coaches like McVay have helped them claw back other first-round wins.
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“Sam Darnold went from former first-round pick to Super Bowl champion, and a big player in that career transition was learning from coaches Kyle Shanahan and Kevin O’Connell in San Francisco and Minnesota, respectively,” Jones-Drew wrote. “If Richardson can find the right position after a tumultuous stretch in Indianapolis, he could be an NFL prospect. The next rebuilding project. Learning under Shanahan or Sean McVay in Los Angeles could help Richardson turn his career around and potentially earn another chance to finally start.”
Ross and MJD aren’t the only analysts who think the Rams would be a good fit for Richardson. Robert Griffin III is also a fan of the move. Griffin III called the trade to Los Angeles “his Sam Darnold reset year.”
There are obvious pros and cons to trading Richardson, and it’s unclear if the Rams are interested in completing the move. But some, at least in the media, supported the decision. Unless the Rams have other plans, this will also serve as a stepping stone to a potential future after Stafford.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Two analysts rate Rams as top pick for Anthony Richardson