The Los Angeles Rams selected Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, but the rookie missed his first season due to what were characterized as mental health difficulties. After a year of uncertainty at the backup quarterback situation and rumors that Bennett would not be ready for 2024, the Rams chose to sign former 49er competitor Jimmy Garoppolo to back up Matthew Stafford. However, Bennett is back and optimistic about the next season, and given that the Rams were ready to offer him the backup role last season, is there a possibility that LA may cut or trade Garoppolo if Bennett has a solid preseason?
While it may seem a bit far fetched for the Rams to cut arguably a top ten backup QB in the league, there are a few reasons why it makes sense.
For starters, Garoppolo is already slated to miss the first two games of the season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy, so the Rams will need Bennett to fill in as the main backup right off the bat. In the past, the team has normally carried two quarterbacks on the roster and one on the practice squad, but with Bennett being a former 4th round pick in a QB needy league, I can’t see the Rams moving Bennett to the practice squad and risk him possibly being signed to a 53-man roster elsewhere. That means LA will need to use a main roster spot to carry three quarterbacks for at least the first two weeks of the season.
There’s also the upside of Bennett, both as a young player and the value his rookie contract brings for the next three seasons. Garoppolo carries a cap hit of $3,178,750 in LA, about three times the cap hit that Bennett does for 2024. Further more, Bennett’s rookie contract through 2026, in total, costs roughly what Garoppolo will make just this season, and that’s before any potential incentives that could take his cost upwards of $12 million.
For starters, Garoppolo is already slated to miss the first two games of the season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy, so the Rams will need Bennett to fill in as the main backup right off the bat. In the past, the team has normally carried two quarterbacks on the roster and one on the practice squad, but with Bennett being a former 4th round pick in a QB needy league, I can’t see the Rams moving Bennett to the practice squad and risk him possibly being signed to a 53-man roster elsewhere. That means LA will need to use a main roster spot to carry three quarterbacks for at least the first two weeks of the season.
Bennett also has upside, both as a young player and in terms of the value his rookie contract provides for the next three seasons. Garoppolo bears a $3,178,750 cap hit in Los Angeles, which is roughly three times Bennett’s contract hit for 2024. Furthermore, Bennett’s rookie contract until 2026 costs approximately the same as Garoppolo’s salary this season, and that’s before any potential incentives that might push his cost up to $12 million.
