Rams draft targets: Round-by-round quarterback grades and fit with L.A.

Joe Fagnano is a late round sleeper (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Fans of the Los Angeles Rams have their interest piqued by possible moves that the team will make find a backup to QB#1 Matthew Stafford. History hints that it won’t come via the draft. L.A. General Manager Les Snead and Head coach Sean McVay have only drafted one quarterback since their 2017 pairing, Stetson Bennett at #128 of Round 4 in 2023.

Now entering his 10th season at the helm, McVay hasn’t put much of a premium on QB #2 until the last two seasons. Neither Jared Goff nor Stafford came off the field much and L.A. has cast their lot with unheralded youngsters and/or reclamation efforts. It never really bit the Rams until 2023 when Staff went down during Week 8 and then missed Week 9. Inexperienced Brett Rypien struggled mightily and both were losses.

An argument could be made that the 2023 fiasco changed how McVay sees the QB#2 role.

A little history

Going back to Year 1, McVay inherited Sean Mannion, a Round 3 pick of the previous regime. Mannion handled the duties for two seasons and was let go after his rookie deal expired with 160 snaps over those four years.

Blake Bortles stepped into the void after flaming out with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was one-and-done in 2019, his career abruptly over after that season. Undrafted John Wolford had the job for three seasons, the backup bridge between Goff and Stafford, but left after 2022 and hasn’t taken an NFL snap since. Rypien started 2023, but was cut mid-season and Carson Wentz stepped in.

Wentz had one start, the final game of the season and led a win over the San Francisco 49ers. Although Wentz wasn’t brought back in 2024, the Rams decided to go with a stable, proven veteran, inking Jimmy Garappolo for consecutive years.

Flash forward to today and L.A. hasn’t brought Garrappolo into the fold for 2026, even though he’s still unsigned. The Rams are playing their cards close to the vest, in-house option Bennett enters his fourth season with the Rams, but hasn’t played a snap and becomes a restricted free agent after the season. Mock drafts and rumors have tied L.A. to prospects Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, and Taylen Green.

I have 12 quarterbacks with draftable grade in the 2026 class and have listed them according to their grades. A trio of small school prospects, Jack Strand ( MSU Moorhead), Jacob Clark (Missouri State), and Derek Robertson (Monmouth) have received some run from pundits, but I didn’t see that much in them.

Round 1

Fernando Mendoza – Indiana  6’5” 236 lb.

Round 2

Ty Simpson – ‘Bama  6’1” 211 lb.

Round 3

Garrett Nussmeier – LSU. 6’2” 203 lb.

Round 4

Drew Allar – Penn State 6’ 5” 228 lb.

Carson Beck – Miami  6’5” 233 lb.

Cade Klubnik – Clemson  6’2” 207 lb.

Drew Allar (6'5 228) Penn State

• Arm strength
• Tough to bring down on initial contact
• Maneuvering the pocket
• Former 5-star recruit
• Prototype size
• Just now turned 22 years old
• 72.7% adjusted completion rate in 2025
• 61 passing touchdowns to just 13 career… pic.twitter.com/uwA0DbBKeo

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) March 31, 2026

Round 5

Taylen Green – Arkansas  6’6” 227 lb.

Cole Payton – North Dakota State 6’3” 232 lb.

Round 6

Joe Fagnano – UCONN  6’3” 226 lb.

Haynes King – Georgia Tech  6’2” 212 lb.

Sawyer Robertson – Baylor  6’4” 216 lb.

Haynes King #RamblingWreck

What shows up routinely?

– Two-step decels with precise footwork to maneuver traffic
– Vision in tight creases
– Patience to set up lanes
– Chain-moving athletic ability on the cusp of breakaway explosion…load the box and he can flip the field pic.twitter.com/gDfUQYMEWe

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) February 22, 2026

Round 7

Luke Altmyer – Illinois  6’2” 210 lb.

My guys

Drew Allar has the size, athleticism, and tools for the NFL Recognition is not simply a have/don’t have natural trait. It can be improved. Allar, under the Rams offensive wing, really interests me. I also like all three of the Round 6 players.

Joe Fagnano is experienced, studious and system-based, he can run an offense and protect the football. Good arm, decent athleticism, and played under two coaches with NFL experience. Haynes King has shown season-by-season improvement, checks off all the boxes, and spits out competitive fire and leadership. Would love to see an real athlete run the McVay offense.

Sawyer Robertson is a Texas gunslinger and very athletic. I don’t think he was a fit for the “air raid” offenses he played in and his best football will come as a pro.

Two bodies are needed for OTAs and then training camp. Matthew Stafford does not need to be out there throwing 150 balls a day, just enough to get his timing down. While a veteran would likely be best for the QB#2 role, maybe the braintrust feels Stetson Bennett is ready to be the backup and a developmental prospect will be selected.

What names should the Rams consider at QB #2? Include your favorite draft prospects.