BREAKING NEWS:The four quarterback reclamation projects the Rams ought to think about

Over the past few seasons, Sean McVay has assisted several quarterbacks in improving their public perceptions.
The first occurred early in the week following Baker Mayfield’s mid-season signing, when the traveling signal caller started to dominate Thursday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders. At SoFi Stadium, Mayfield unexpectedly guided Los Angeles to victory and hit Van Jefferson with the game-winning touchdown pass. The rest is history, including Mayfield’s successful lead this season that sent the Tampa Bay Bucs to the divisional round of the playoffs. This offseason, the quarterback will probably receive a large contract deal from the Bucs.

And there’s Carson Wentz, who was at home and available to sign after the midway point of this season with the Rams. Wentz was signed by Los Angeles a few days after backup Brett Rypien failed miserably in a crucial game against the Green Bay Packers.

1 – Mac Jones, New England Patriots

The 49ers’ decision to select Trey Lance over Jones after moving up to the third overall pick in 2021 was somewhat unexpected. The Patriots selected Jones with the fifteenth overall pick, selecting him ahead of Cam Newton to start.

Jones had a very impressive debut campaign, throwing 13 interceptions in addition to 22 touchdowns. Leading New England to a 10-7 record, he demonstrated his ability to make decisions quickly and to pass accurately.

However, his offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, departed during the 2022 offseason to take on the head coaching role for the Raiders. This departure triggered a downward spiral, leaving Jones struggling to regain his momentum thereafter.

Certainly, fault can be assigned to the Patriots for the unconventional choice of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge as replacements for McDaniels. The main critique, however, lies in the Patriots’ failure to construct a strong supporting cast around Jones, a quarterback with a style akin to a playmaker. Jones excels in quickly analyzing defenses, anticipating plays, and distributing the ball. Yet, he faced significant challenges when throwing to receivers such as DeVante Parker, Jacobi Myers, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Shuster, Jalen Reagor, DeMario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte. While individually talented, these players lack a clear number one—or even a true number two—receiver among them. From this perspective, the Patriots let Jones down.

What could Jones offer to Los Angeles?

Jones may not possess the highest potential compared to others on the list, but he likely presents the lowest risk. There’s also a possibility of Jones evolving into a potential future starter, though he probably falls into the category of quarterbacks where teams keep searching for a star each year until they find a better option. Nevertheless, quarterbacks of this caliber still hold considerable value in the NFL.

Acquiring Jones would require a trade with the Rams, but with Bailey Zappe already under contract and the Patriots expected to select a quarterback in the draft, Jones could potentially be moved for a mid-round pick.

2 – Zach Wilson, New York Jets

Unlike Jones, Wilson has yet to consistently demonstrate the potential to be a starting quarterback. While he’s had some notable performances, such as against the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans this year, overall, his time with the Jets has showcased more incompetence than competence.

You might wonder why the Rams would consider bringing in a player like Wilson. The reason is that Los Angeles currently holds late first-round draft picks and is likely to do so for the next few seasons as long as Stafford remains healthy and starting. Given this situation, the Rams may not have easy access to a quarterback of Wilson’s caliber. Their options are either to expend significant resources to trade up or to attempt to maximize the potential of a player who faltered in their initial opportunity.

Wilson possesses the talent necessary for success and could benefit from a temporary break from the spotlight. Stylistically, he and Stafford share similarities as creative, risk-taking quarterbacks. With the right environment and support system, Wilson has the potential to excel, especially considering his mobility, which adds a dimension currently lacking in the Rams’ offensive scheme.

It’s highly probable that Wilson will depart from New York this offseason, and if the Jets are unable to find a trade partner, they may release him outright. Acquiring Wilson might come at a lower cost than obtaining Jones.

3 – Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

Fields comes with the highest price tag among the players mentioned, but he also boasts the greatest potential for success. It’s almost certain that the Bears will select USC’s Caleb Williams as the first overall pick this spring, making Fields available to the highest bidder.

However, Fields wouldn’t be a logical choice for the Rams for several reasons. Firstly, the cost to acquire him would be significant, likely requiring a second-round draft pick. Additionally, Fields is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, assuming that the team acquiring him exercises his fully guaranteed fifth-year option.

Bringing in Fields would indicate that the Rams believe they need to replace Stafford sooner rather than later, which may not necessarily be the case. While nothing is certain with McVay and Les Snead, this move seems unlikely given the circumstances.

4 – Drew Lock, Seattle Seahawks (free agent)

Drew Lock is anticipated to become an unrestricted free agent after spending two years with the Seahawks. Seattle appears to have a favorable opinion of Lock, having re-signed him last offseason to serve as a backup to Geno Smith. Lock showcased his abilities by leading the team to a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles this season, completing 22 of 33 passes (67%) for 208 yards and a touchdown.

There’s speculation whether Lock might follow offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to Chicago and serve as a backup to Caleb Williams. Alternatively, other coaches from the McVay-Shanahan scheme might be interested in Lock’s services after his two-year tenure in a related system.

Lock would bring a strong arm to Los Angeles and possesses physical tools similar to Stafford. However, where they differ significantly is in Stafford’s tactical acumen and ability to manipulate defenses with his intellect and eyes, an area where Lock has yet to fully develop.

On the positive side, the Rams wouldn’t need to trade for Lock or sacrifice any draft picks to acquire him. He’s likely to command a free agent contract in the range of two to four million dollars, which is relatively affordable for a quarterback in today’s market.