Ever since the Los Angeles Rams drafted Stetson Bennett, there has been a narrative that he could be an option to be the potential starter after Matthew Stafford. Bennett played college football at Georgia in the SEC, similar to Stafford, and won back-to-back national championships. However, the key piece that seems to get lost is that never was, and still isn’t, the plan for Bennett. While Bennett may have been drafted in the fourth round, this isn’t a player that the Rams drafted to be their future starting quarterback.
Bennett’s tenure in Los Angeles has been a rollercoaster to say the least. He was a bright spot at times during his first preseason, but still threw three interceptions to just one touchdown. The rookie then took a leave of absence. Bennett led fourth quarter comebacks against the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers after returning to the team last season, but once again threw five interceptions to two touchdowns.
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The former fourth-round pick has shown development this season, playing his two best games since arriving in 2023. He had a career-high 100.7 passer rating and threw two touchdowns in the preseason opener against the Cowboys. Bennett then had a career-high 324 yards passing and 108.7 passer rating last week against the Chargers. Still, turnovers remain an issue as Bennett has never gone a full preseason game without an interception. Against the Chargers, he had three turnover-worthy throws that should have been interceptions.
Heading into next offseason, the Rams will officially be in the quarterback market, especially with two first-round picks in a good quarterback class. Nothing that Bennett does between now and then should change the Rams’ approach in that aspect as they look for the heir to Matthew Stafford. Just because Bennett isn’t the future starting quarterback for the Rams doesn’t mean he was a failure of a draft pick or a bust. As mentioned earlier, that’s never what Bennett was drafted to be.
When the Rams drafted Bennett in 2023, it came one season after the Rams failed to prioritize the backup quarterback position in 2022. That resulted in disastrous starts from John Wolford and Bryce Perkins. The Rams lucked into Baker Mayfield when he was outright released by the Carolina Panthers and the team was able to claim him off of waivers.
Following that experience, the Rams wanted a long-term backup that knew the system and was someone that they could rely on to run the offense if needed. Essentially, McVay doesn’t want to think about the backup quarterback and would prefer to ‘set it and forget it’. That’s the role that Bennett was drafted for in 2023. This was a player with physical limitations, but had the traits perfectly suited for the offense. Lance Zierlein of NFL Media wrote, “Bennett has backup potential for a timing-based passing attack that includes concepts often seen in the Shanahan offense.” Added The Athletic’s Dane Brugler pre-draft,
“Aside from his impressive college resume, Bennett is quick-footed and efficient with the game-manager qualities to operate an NFL offense. He throws with touch when in rhythm, but he doesn’t have the arm to drive the ball into tight windows and his accuracy will waver under pressure. Overall, Bennett is a smallish passer who doesn’t have the physical traits that most NFL teams seek at the position, but he is a sound decision-maker with the competitive temperament and make-it attitude that translate to his on-field play. He is ideally suited for a move-based NFL offense in which he can be a No. 2/No. 3.”
The absolute best-case scenario for Bennett was always that he would be the bridge quarterback for a year while a rookie sat behind him or the Rams waited to draft a rookie. Realistically, he is the backup quarterback that understands the system and can serve as a second quarterback coach to whoever the Rams draft. If the Rams end up needing a backup quarterback, Bennett can fill in and still be expected to run the offense as designed. At 28 years old, he’s an experienced player that can be relied on to execute the offense. A 28-year old quarterback is not someone to build a future around.
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Again, that’s not a bad thing and doesn’t make Bennett a bust because that’s exactly what he was expected to be. Having the opportunity to learn behind a true pro in Jimmy Garoppolo over the last two seasons has only helped him develop into that long-term backup despite being the third quarterback on the depth chart. This offseason he’s gotten more backup reps with Stafford out, while Garoppolo has taken reps with the starters.
This isn’t to say that Bennett hasn’t played well in the preseason because he has. However, that doesn’t mean he needs to be crowned as the future starter either. If anything, Bennett’s strong performances provide optimism that he can be the long-term backup post-Stafford and post-Garoppolo. That optimism didn’t exist coming into the summer with some questions on whether or not he should even make the roster.
The Rams are entering a transition period at quarterback. While Stafford could be the quarterback for two more years, this is a team with two first round picks next April. They’ll have the opportunity to take their future franchise quarterback at that time. When that player does eventually take over as the starter, don’t be surprised if it’s Bennett as the team’s backup.