Which NFL Draft QBs are a fit for the Rams to draft?

They may or may not end up selecting a quarterback but it’s at least worth figuring out who they could select.

The draft is in less than two weeks and the Rams will have plenty of decisions to make. A big decision is whether or not to select a quarterback in this draft. With the team already signing Jimmy Garoppolo and confirming that Stetson Bennett will be back with the team, it would be a bit of a surprise to see the Rams take one. That, however, doesn’t mean they won’t.

Tier 1: Very unlikely options

Drake Maye, North Carolina

He’s got the prototypical size for the position and has beyond an NFL arm to go with it. He’s equipped with outstanding velocity to fit throws into tight windows. He has the mobility that you look for in a modern day franchise quarterback and coupled with that is his ability to throw off-platform.

Maye has no issue throwing over the middle of the field and does it with confidence. He has the ability to scramble and escape if put into harms way and is a very crafty quarterback.

With that said, Maye is still a work in progress. It’s not going to stop him from going early in the NFL draft but he does have to work on his erratic decision-making, his ability to operate under pressure a bit more composed and his overall mechanics.

Maye is listed here because he’s the one of the big three quarterbacks that has any sliver of hope of falling far enough down the board for the Rams to select. Would they do it? Well, if he was there at pick 10, I definitely think they would have the conversation internally at the very least.

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

He’s equipped with a lot of what talent evaluators look for in a franchise quarterback. McCarthy has outstanding poise in the pocket and toughness. When he’s backed against the wall on big third downs, he almost always seems to deliver. He’s a good decision maker with the football and he has mobility to put himself into a position to make the best play. Even if he can’t find anyone, McCarthy has scrambling ability to be a pest for defenses. His ball velocity allows to him to make any throw on the field.

He’s one of the youngest quarterbacks in this draft and because of that you can see he hasn’t quite grown into his frame yet. He’s an incomplete prospect with a lot of molding left to be done which is an NFL coach’s dream if they are any good of course. The mechanics will need to improve and he will need to work on his inconsistencies in the accuracy department.

One thing is for sure this is the most talked about prospect currently. I don’t see him falling outside of the top 10 but if it turns out this was all a smoke screen the Rams could pull the trigger on McCarthy and have him sit behind Matthew Stafford for the next few years while being ready to take over at 24-25 years old.

Tier 2: Possible Options

Michael Penix Jr., Washington

Penix Jr. has been through a lot in his career. It’s impressive but it also likely scares teams with his injury history going back to when he left Indiana. He’s a very good deep ball thrower and has a lively arm. The mobility is there for Penix and then some as he’s someone who can collect extra yards after picking up the first down. He’s fearless when he’s throwing outside the numbers.

However, Penix Jr. is an older quarterback, his mechanics aren’t the sharpest and it’s displayed when you see how stiff he is as a passer. He doesn’t handle pressure well and struggles to throw with anticipation. To make matters worse he has very limited experience throwing over the middle and around the intermediate level of the field. He’s played plenty of snaps to do it he just doesn’t prefer to.

This is a player that could go in the first round but I see him as more of a third round pick. That doesn’t mean he will go there though. If he fell far enough I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Rams take the left hander.

Bo Nix, Oregon

Nix has been linked to the Rams at their 19th pick all draft season it feels like. Here’s the problem…Nix isn’t worth that high of a pick. He’s just not. Nix got better over the course of his college career but he’s a much older quarterback at 24 years old, he’s an erratic processor, lacks consistent ball placement, has shoddy mechanics and has a much lower ceiling coupled with a higher floor.

The fact with Nix is that he’s a quality quarterback prospect who is built the right way, has the athleticism scouts want, has a big arm and displays the ability to throw downfield with accuracy and off-platform.

Nix will be there for the Rams barring something crazy but I don’t see the point of drafting him as if there aren’t other quarterbacks like him in next year’s draft. It doesn’t mean that Nix is a bad prospect but to invest in a first round pick on a quarterback you have to be special in my opinion and Bo Nix with all do respect is simply not special but replicable.

Tier 3: Likely Options

Spencer Rattler, South Carolina

Rattler played in a pro style offense that lacked talent outside of Xavier Legette. He displayed great mechanics on film and showed that he is a true pocket passer. He has a solid frame for the position and has quality arm talent to make you feel good about his projection in the NFL.

With that said though, Rattler is still too much of an erratic decision-maker, his timing throws aren’t almost on time, he doesn’t have any jaw-dropping qualities and is not going to project as a threat with his legs at the next level.

Rattler projects as a day two pick and while I don’t think the Rams need to pick a quarterback, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took one and it ended up being Rattler. He has the tools to be a starting quarterback if developed properly.

Michael Pratt, Tulane

Pratt is a fun prospect who was a big reason Tulane started to win tons of football games in what felt overnight. He doesn’t wow you in any way and lacks elite traits but that’s why he’s an option on day two and perhaps even day three.

What Pratt doesn’t have in arm strength, he makes up for across the board. He’s got great accuracy and it’s displayed all over the field. He’s good at recognizing coverages, can manipulate defensive backs with his eyes, is able to throw with touch downfield. Pratt will move around but most importantly he keeps the play alive since he doesn’t drop his eyes when is legs start to move.

Pratt doesn’t have the highest ceiling and lacks the NFL arm strength you would like but he very well could carve himself into a starting quarterback teams just cannot ignore.

As for Pratt, this seems like a move the Rams could make in day three if he falls.

Tier 4: The Rest

Jordan Travis, Florida State

He’s a dual-threat quarterback coming off a brutal season-ending injury. Jordan Travis throws well on the run and is very fast. However, he’s older, he lacks the ideal quarterback build leaving a scrambling quarterback susceptible to getting hurt. He has a middling arm that will no doubt limit his ceiling. The Rams could get Travis on day three.

Devin Leary, Kentucky

He has familiarity with former Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Leary is a transfer who has fantastic arm strength, great ball velocity and is confident in the pocket. Leary to add onto that has good mechanics and can work off script.

However, Leary just has inconsistencies littered all over his game. His ball placement leaves a lot to be desired, his accuracy in general isn’t consistent, his decision-making is a problem as well.

I could absolutely see the Rams sneaking Leary onto their roster either last in the draft or after as an undrafted rookie free agent.

Joe Milton, Tennessee

I want to like Joe Milton badly. However, when it comes to him he looks like a spitting image of Anthony Richardson but just doesn’t come close in comparison. He’s got elite traits as a thrower of the football. He might throw the ball as far as anyone in the country. With that said, Milton’s rocket arm, perfect frame and velocity are the three things that get people most excited about him.

He simply is an older quarterback who offers no touch, everything he throws is typically one speed and overall as a quarterback he’s just way to inconsistent to draft higher than late day three. If he did pan out though the upside is tremendous based on the arm talent itself.

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame

Hartman really is solid at everything. I don’t know if I would call him the jack of all trades but the master of none. However, he’s got heavy emphasis on accuracy, toughness and mental processing. The issue with Hartman is that he is limited with average to below average arm talent, mobility and has an extensive injury history. He’s once again an older quarterback who will be 25 years old by the start of the season.

I can absolutely see the Rams bringing him in via undrafted rookie free agency but aside from that I’m not sure the Rams would draft him.

Final Thoughts

I think the Rams should avoid selecting a quarterback unless the offer is too good to pass up. For instance, if a guy like Rattler or Pratt falls into their lap in the fifth round somehow, I’m taking that all day, If Drake Maye falls into the top 10, I think I would really have to consider trading up and of course the Rams fell in love with one of these guys during the pre-draft process I could see them selecting someone.

Where do I think they go? Quite honestly, I think one of these four will be a Ram or no one. The first is Michael Pratt, the second is Devin Leary and the third is Michael Penix Jr. and fourth is Spencer Rattler. We will see what ensues. I do think the Rams can 100 percent go wrong in the draft if they choose a quarterback too early.