{"id":857731,"date":"2026-04-06T23:15:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T23:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/857731\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T23:15:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T23:15:34","slug":"rams-bold-trade-idea-lands-team-former-national-champion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/857731\/","title":{"rendered":"Rams Bold Trade Idea Lands Team Former National Champion"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Sean\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Sean McVay will enter his 10th season coaching the Rams<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Rams<\/a> have a history of trading out of the first round since hiring Sean McVay as head coach.<\/p>\n

McVay and Co. have selected one player (Jared Verse<\/a>) in the first round since being hired as HC back in the 2017 offseason. LA has already traded one of its two first-round selections, the 29th overall, to the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> in exchange for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie<\/a>, and the window remains open to trading the other.<\/p>\n

With the 2026 NFL<\/a> Draft just a few weeks away, one ESPN writer dropped a bold trade prediction, with the Rams having the possibility of adding a former National Champion to the squad.<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Rams-Vikings Trade Idea\"JJ<\/p>\n

GettyThe Rams could add a former 10th overall pick<\/p>\n

Matthew Stafford<\/a> announced in his MVP acceptance speech that he will return for his 18th season in the National Football League. While the Super Bowl-winning quarterback returning for another season is a positive, it delays the inevitable replacement of Stafford.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, the LA Rams have a history of trading out of the first round, but an ESPN senior writer believes the team can trade down in the first round of this upcoming draft.<\/p>\n

Bill Barnwell dropped his trade ideas<\/a> for all 32 teams in the league ahead of the draft and listed the Rams acquiring quarterback JJ McCarthy<\/a> from the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> in exchange for the 13th overall pick.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know general manager Les Snead doesn\u2019t value picks in the bottom quarter of the first round, so the Rams aren\u2019t likely to move down very far if they do trade down here,\u201d Barnwell wrote. \u201cAnd while Snead is obviously going to want to use his remaining first-round pick to address the 2026 roster, there is also an argument to be made for trying to land his team\u2019s quarterback of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs McCarthy a viable solution? The results we\u2019ve seen so far say no. But great coaches also have a habit of revitalizing quarterbacks who didn\u2019t look like NFL-caliber starters\u2026 At the right price, though, taking a flier on McCarthy would make sense. The Vikings are unlikely to move forward with the 2024 ninth overall pick as their quarterback of the future, having\u00a0signed\u00a0Kyler Murray<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adding the former Michigan Wolverine National Champion will give the Rams a QB with the potential to become the franchise quarterback after Matthew Stafford decides to call it a career.<\/p>\n

The 2025 season wasn\u2019t great for McCarthy, but numerous injuries in his short career likely stunted his development. The quarterback has thrown for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while rushing for 181 yards and 4 touchdowns in 10 games for the Vikings.<\/p>\n

Learning from an MVP-winning quarterback and one of the best offensive-minded head coaches could benefit McCarthy and prepare him for future success.<\/p>\n

Alongside landing JJ McCarthy, Barnwell believes the Rams will also receive the Vikings\u2019 18th and 97th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Rams Running Out of Options for Backup Quarterback\"Matthew<\/p>\n

GettyMatthew Stafford will enter his 6th season with the Rams<\/p>\n

The current backup for the Los Angeles Rams is Stetson Bennett<\/a>, who has yet to play a snap in his NFL career.<\/p>\n

Sean McVay revealed<\/a> the Rams were in on Kirk Cousins<\/a> before he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>. LA\u2019s 2024 and 2025 primary backup, Jimmy Garoppolo<\/a>, is still available through free agency, but no work has been done yet.<\/p>\n

Jimmy G has chemistry with McVay\u2019s offensive scheme and won\u2019t have to learn it, unlike other options.<\/p>\n

If the Rams were interested in landing JJ McCarthy, it would give the former Wolverine a year to learn McVay\u2019s offense and then take the mantle once Stafford enters retirement.<\/p>\n

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson<\/a> remains another option for the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJason Garcia<\/a> Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. More about Jason Garcia<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Rams\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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