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\u2019t, the plan for Bennett. While Bennett may have been drafted in the fourth round, this isn\u2019t a player that the Rams drafted to be their future starting quarterback.<\/p>\n
Bennett\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 approach in that aspect as they look for the heir to Matthew Stafford. Just because Bennett isn\u2019t the future starting quarterback for the Rams doesn\u2019t mean he was a failure of a draft pick or a bust. As mentioned earlier, that\u2019s never what Bennett was drafted to be.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t want to think about the backup quarterback and would prefer to \u2018set it and forget it\u2019. That\u2019s 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<\/a>, \u201cBennett has backup potential for a timing-based passing attack that includes concepts often seen in the Shanahan offense.\u201d Added The Athletic\u2019s Dane Brugler pre-draft<\/a>,<\/p>\n \u201cAside 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\u2019t 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\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Again, that\u2019s not a bad thing and doesn\u2019t make Bennett a bust because that\u2019s 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\u2019s gotten more backup reps with Stafford out, while Garoppolo has taken reps with the starters.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t to say that Bennett hasn\u2019t played well in the preseason because he has. However, that doesn\u2019t mean he needs to be crowned as the future starter either. If anything, Bennett\u2019s strong performances provide optimism that he can be the long-term backup post-Stafford and post-Garoppolo. That optimism didn\u2019t exist coming into the summer with some questions on whether or not he should even make the roster.<\/p>\n 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\u2019ll have the opportunity to take their future franchise quarterback at that time. When that player does eventually take over as the starter, don\u2019t be surprised if it\u2019s Bennett as the team\u2019s backup.<\/p>\n