Rams attempted to trade QB Matthew Stafford this off season amid Stetson Bennett inclusion, claims Michael Lombardi

The Rams added the Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Rams attempted to trade QB Matthew Stafford this off season amid Stetson Bennett inclusion, claims Michael Lombardi

Matthew Stafford (L- Getty Images) and Stetson Bennett (R- Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Rams selected the Georgia Bulldogs product Stetson Bennett in the 4th round (128th overall pick) in the 2023 NFL Draft. According to multiple reports, Bennett has been dealing in the training camp and has impressed a lot of people. Amidst this, NFL insider Michael Lombardi has revealed that the Rams tried to move on from their star QB Matthew Stafford.

Speaking in a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, the former NFL executive Lombardi claimed that the LA Rams tried very hard to trade away the 35-year-old quarterback Stafford.

“During this off-season, when his option bonus was getting ready to kick in, they attempted with a lot of effort to trade him. Any team could’ve had him, but the problem was you had to absorb the $59M,” said Lombardi. “The Rams knew there was no way around that $59 million. They couldn’t get around it unless they traded him and somebody else took it.”

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Now, the Rams have to move forward and write a big check to their star QB despite being in cap trouble. The Rams traded away the likes of CB Jalen Ramsey and WR Allen Robinson to get out of cap trouble but it seems like the Rams couldn’t find any teams willing to pay Matthew Stafford the big bucks.

Moving forward, Stafford will continue to be on the Rams squad for now and will probably work as a bridge quarterback for the 2-time college football national champion Bennett.

Despite his accomplishments at the college level, Bennett wasn’t a highly touted quarterback due to many reasons. However, the Rams, who scooped the 25-year-old QB in the 4th round, have seen a lot of potential in the Georgia product to become a franchise quarterback in the league. The former Pro Bowl QB Stafford, who missed a lot of games in the 2022 season with injuries, will likely act as a mentor to Bennett.

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Matthew Stafford praises Stetson Bennett

Stetson Bennett Rams
Stetson Bennett (Image via SI)

The Rams’ fourth-round draft pick Stetson Bennett has been turning heads in the training camp with his performances. He has impressed a lot of people in the minicamps including the Rams QB Matthew Stafford.

“Stetson’s done a nice job,” Stafford told reporters after the end of Rams’ OTAs per the RamsNewsWire.com. “Obviously it’s a lot to process and a lot to learn for a young guy. He’s done a nice job. He’s got great athleticism, throws it really well. He does a lot of things really well, so I’m happy for him.”

As of now, Bennett is expected to start the 2023 NFL season as a backup QB to the Super Bowl-winning signal-caller Matthew Stafford. He will sit and learn behind the veteran QB, who missed some games last season with a spinal injury.

Apart from Stafford, the Rams’ star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who missed 8 games last season, is also ready to return to the field again. The Rams will be at their full strength once again in the upcoming season and will be competing for the NFC West division title.

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