Would Rams ditch Matthew Stafford for Jimmy Garoppolo?

The Los Angeles Rams may have already identified a possible replacement for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

According to a report from The Athletic’s Jordan Rodrigue, Rams head coach Sean McVay “really likes” veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo. Rodrigue added L.A. could re-sign Garoppolo — an unrestricted free agent — as a “bridge QB.”

Stafford is entering the third year of a four-year, $160M deal and has $4M in guaranteed money remaining, via Over the Cap. Per Rodrigue, both parties met before Super Bowl LIX to discuss a new contract but have made little progress, which could increase the team’s chances of trading him.

If L.A. decides to part ways with the 37-year-old Stafford, could Garoppolo lead the Rams to their third consecutive playoff appearance?

Garoppolo had a successful run as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-2022, posting a 38-17 regular-season record and guiding the team to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2019 season.

However, his time with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023 was less impressive. In six starts, Garoppolo went 3-3 with a modest passer rating of 77.7. He was eventually benched in favor of Aidan O’Connell and released.

With both McVay and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan running similar offensive systems, Garoppolo might be able to revive his career in McVay’s scheme.Nonetheless, concerns about Garoppolo’s injury history remain. He hasn’t completed a full regular season since 2019 due to foot, shoulder, and knee issues.

The Rams may have better free-agent options, including Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields. In 2024, Fields — pick No. 11 in the 2021 NFL Draft — went 4-2 in six starts before Russell Wilson replaced him.

However, keeping Stafford — a Super Bowl champion — should remain the Rams’ top priority. That said, signing a veteran like Fields and drafting a QB (such as Quinn Ewers from Texas or Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss) could serve as a solid backup plan.

While McVay is reportedly a fan of Garoppolo, relying on him as a replacement for Stafford seems too risky.