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There is a lot of smoke during this draft season not only of the Los Angeles Ramstaking a quarterback early, but that they'll target Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with their first pick.
Multiplerecentmockdrafts connected Dart to L.A. and a few ESPN analysts believe the two are a great fit. Draft analyst Jordan Reid wrote that "pairing Dart with Rams coach Sean McVay ... would be the best-case scenario for him," while fellow ESPN analysts Field Yates and Matt Miller agreed that Dart makes sense for the Rams' long-term future.
But does this move make sense? Should the Rams use an early-round pick on Dart despite Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo likely ahead of him on the depth chart?
Let's explore the pros and cons:
One of the quickest ways teams go from contender to the bottom of the league is when they fail to replace their aging veteran. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints are a few of the biggest victims of this failure.
Meanwhile, teams like the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs have continued to flourish because they drafted their franchise quarterback replacement before the current one left. The San Francisco 49ers sort of did this, too, except they lucked into Brock Purdy when Trey Lance was the original pick.
Dart would be the heir apparent to Stafford's role, whenever the veteran leaves the team or the league. While McVay sounded like he'd be fine with Garoppolo, Dart is a much more intriguing prospect.
If the Rams are truly in win-now mode, they shouldn't take a quarterback early. It will be much easier to find a starting linebacker or cornerback in the first-round who could make an immediate impact that a player who will ride the bench for at least one season. Even more, the Rams could bring in more depth at receiver or offensive line instead and give themselves more flexibility in case of injuries.
Taking Dart is a long-term play. That's not a bad idea, but it's also not exactly what the Rams are looking to do in 2025, either.
There is nothing more valuable in the NFL than a quarterback on a rookie contract. Even if Dart doesn't see any playing time in 2025, he wouldn't cost the team that much for a free look at a potential franchise quarterback. Otherwise, the Rams may have to continue to pay mid-market value for backups.
This is a weak quarterback class, and Dart isn't a sure-fire prospect. He might not even be a first-round-caliber quarterback. Whiffing on Dart wouldn't be the end of the world for the Rams, but it would alter their long-term plans for the position depending on what happens with Stafford.
McVay turned Jared Goff into a serviceable quarterback when he became the Rams' head coach in 2017 and then he elevated Stafford's game in 2021. With more time to mold him, McVay could do wonders with a prospect like Dart.
This is hard to gauge, but drafting a quarterback with a premium pick when your starter is at the end of his career could send a bad signal. The Packers' relationship with Aaron Rodgers never improved after they drafted Jordan Love in 2020, and the Atlanta Falcons got off on the wrong foot with Kirk Cousins when they drafted Michael Penix in 2024.
Stafford may not care about the Rams' adding a quarterback considering he knows he's near the end of his career, but he might still be upset that the Rams didn't use the pick on, say, a lineman or receiver instead.
If the Rams are playing to win in 2025 and figure it out later, drafting Dart is a mistake. There are other players who could be more impactful as L.A. makes another run at a Super Bowl.
But, if the Rams are also looking at the future, it makes total sense to draft Dart. It's impossible to know what future quarterback classes will be like, and the Rams should pounce on a prospect if the team likes him enough and thinks he can turn into a starter.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Should the Rams draft QB Jaxson Dart? Here are the pros and cons
Continue reading...
Multiplerecentmockdrafts connected Dart to L.A. and a few ESPN analysts believe the two are a great fit. Draft analyst Jordan Reid wrote that "pairing Dart with Rams coach Sean McVay ... would be the best-case scenario for him," while fellow ESPN analysts Field Yates and Matt Miller agreed that Dart makes sense for the Rams' long-term future.
But does this move make sense? Should the Rams use an early-round pick on Dart despite Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo likely ahead of him on the depth chart?
Let's explore the pros and cons:
Pro: A true succession plan at QB
One of the quickest ways teams go from contender to the bottom of the league is when they fail to replace their aging veteran. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints are a few of the biggest victims of this failure.
Meanwhile, teams like the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs have continued to flourish because they drafted their franchise quarterback replacement before the current one left. The San Francisco 49ers sort of did this, too, except they lucked into Brock Purdy when Trey Lance was the original pick.
Dart would be the heir apparent to Stafford's role, whenever the veteran leaves the team or the league. While McVay sounded like he'd be fine with Garoppolo, Dart is a much more intriguing prospect.
Con: Leaving other talent on the board
If the Rams are truly in win-now mode, they shouldn't take a quarterback early. It will be much easier to find a starting linebacker or cornerback in the first-round who could make an immediate impact that a player who will ride the bench for at least one season. Even more, the Rams could bring in more depth at receiver or offensive line instead and give themselves more flexibility in case of injuries.
Taking Dart is a long-term play. That's not a bad idea, but it's also not exactly what the Rams are looking to do in 2025, either.
Pro: Starting the rookie QB contract clock
There is nothing more valuable in the NFL than a quarterback on a rookie contract. Even if Dart doesn't see any playing time in 2025, he wouldn't cost the team that much for a free look at a potential franchise quarterback. Otherwise, the Rams may have to continue to pay mid-market value for backups.
Con: Dart might not be a franchise QB
This is a weak quarterback class, and Dart isn't a sure-fire prospect. He might not even be a first-round-caliber quarterback. Whiffing on Dart wouldn't be the end of the world for the Rams, but it would alter their long-term plans for the position depending on what happens with Stafford.
Pro: McVay is great with QBs
McVay turned Jared Goff into a serviceable quarterback when he became the Rams' head coach in 2017 and then he elevated Stafford's game in 2021. With more time to mold him, McVay could do wonders with a prospect like Dart.
Con: Upsetting Stafford
This is hard to gauge, but drafting a quarterback with a premium pick when your starter is at the end of his career could send a bad signal. The Packers' relationship with Aaron Rodgers never improved after they drafted Jordan Love in 2020, and the Atlanta Falcons got off on the wrong foot with Kirk Cousins when they drafted Michael Penix in 2024.
Stafford may not care about the Rams' adding a quarterback considering he knows he's near the end of his career, but he might still be upset that the Rams didn't use the pick on, say, a lineman or receiver instead.
Verdict: It depends
If the Rams are playing to win in 2025 and figure it out later, drafting Dart is a mistake. There are other players who could be more impactful as L.A. makes another run at a Super Bowl.
But, if the Rams are also looking at the future, it makes total sense to draft Dart. It's impossible to know what future quarterback classes will be like, and the Rams should pounce on a prospect if the team likes him enough and thinks he can turn into a starter.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Should the Rams draft QB Jaxson Dart? Here are the pros and cons
Continue reading...
