2024 NFL Mock Draft: Rams Pick Matthew Stafford's Replacement in 1st Round
The Los Angeles Rams currently have their franchise quarterback in Matthew Stafford, but is it too early for them to start planning for the future at the game's most important position.
Not at all, according to the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, which has the Rams spending their first-round pick on Stafford's eventual successor.
It's Michigan's J.J. McCarthy who gets the nod at the No. 19 pick in this projection, giving the Rams a talented understudy who could learn behind Stafford as he wraps up his impressive career.
Stafford has been stellar since being acquired by the Rams via trade from the Detroit Lions, but he just turned 36 this month, and has dealt with nagging injuries. McCarthy just turned 21, and while he's somewhat unproven as a passer, clearly has the tools to develop into a quality starter down the line.
McCarthy would benefit from sitting behind an accomplished veteran like Stafford.
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McCarthy is the fourth and final quarterback to crack this first-round mock after three come off the board in the top three picks: USC's Caleb Williams (No. 1, Chicago Bears), North Carolina's Drake Maye (No. 2, Washington Commanders), and LSU's Jayden Daniels (No. 3, New England Patriots).
That early quarterback run is followed by a trio of wide receivers in the next three slots, as Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 4, Arizona Cardinals), LSU's Malik Nabers (No. 5, Los Angeles Chargers), and Washington's Rome Odunze (No. 6, New York Giants) headline one of the deepest groups of pass-catchers in recent memory.
To check out the full mock draft at CBS Sports, click here.
