New NFL Pros Must Show They Can Win Games Right Away

Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A.

Vasquez-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Rams could be in the market to select a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. While Matthew Stafford could play for two more years, the Rams need to start thinking about what happens when their quarterback retires. That doesn’t mean they need to ignore building around Stafford for the sake of drafting a rookie quarterback.

At the same time, taking a rookie and allowing them to develop has been proven to work in the development of young quarterbacks. When teams typically draft young quarterbacks, the expectation is that the player will start right away. If that player doesn’t start right away, when the starting quarterback makes a mistake, the pressure from the fanbase only increases to play the rookie.

As long as Stafford is under center, that outside pressure doesn’t exist. In the same way that there wasn’t pressure on the Green Bay Packers to play Aaron Rodgers when Brett Favre struggled or play Jordan Love when Rodgers struggled, the Rams wouldn’t have the exterior pressure to play a rookie when Stafford throws an interception. The same can be said when the Kansas City Chiefs brought along Patrick Mahomes.