2024 NFL Mock Draft: Los Angeles Rams Select Matthew Stafford QB Successor in Round 1?
While Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's statistics -- eight touchdown passes to seven interceptions in eight games -- may not jump off the page, his arm has looked rejuvenated a year after an elbow problem was among the many ailments he dealt with.
Nonetheless, a new NFL Mock Draft has the Rams selecting his successor next April.
Pro Football Focus recently released their latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft, and they have general manager Les Snead, coach Sean McVay, and the Rams taking Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 6 overall pick.
"Nix has been one of the most improved and most efficient passers in the country over the past two years," PFF wrote. "He comes with dual-threat rushing ability and an NFL-level arm. He’d cook in a McVay offense, especially with Cooper Kupp (78.6 PFF grade), Puka Nacua (84.6), and Tutu Atwell (69.0) to throw to."
Could the Los Angeles Rams select quarterback Bo Nix in the 2024 NFL Draft?
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A fifth-year senior who began his collegiate career at Auburn, Nix is putting together a monster season in his second campaign at Oregon. In nine games for the Ducks, Nix has tossed 25 touchdowns to two interceptions, while racking up 2,723 passing yards.
He's also added five touchdown scampers, a year after rushing for 510 yards and 14 touchdowns. There's some divide on who the third quarterback off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft will be after USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye, but Nix has certainly entered that conversation.
Also unclear is whether the Rams would use the first pick they've had in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2016 on a quarterback, or whether they would try to make a run at a second title with the veteran core of Stafford, defensive tackle Aaron Donald and receiver Cooper Kupp.
Trading or cutting Stafford before June 1, 2024, would leave the Rams with more than $50 million in dead cap money next season, so Los Angeles would have to get very creative to move the veteran quarterback.
But presumably, if the Rams were to select Nix -- who would be 24 in his rookie season -- they wouldn't do so with the plan being for him to sit behind Stafford for a year or two. So things, as they tend to be with the McVay/Snead regime project to be very interesting this offseason if the Rams do indeed have their hearts set on finding their next franchise quarterback.
