Stafford's New Backup?: Rams Find Their 'Second-Tier' QB With Stetson Bennett

The Los Angeles Rams had to dive deeper into the NFL Draft to find their backup quarterback which turned out to be Stetson Bennett.

Without a first-round pick, the Los Angeles Rams had to spend much of their time looking into quarterbacks that weren't projected to go on Day 1. Rams general manager Les Snead said they were very "intentional" about looking further into the "second-tier" of quarterbacks. 

That extra work paid off on Saturday as the Rams pulled the trigger on Stetson Bennett with the No. 129 overall pick. The ex-Georgia Bulldog who led them to back-to-back national championships will join another alumnus in Matthew Stafford and potentially serve as his backup. 

The Rams learned the value of having a competent backup quarterback who could operate as the starter in times of need. After playing four quarterbacks in 2022, they will hope that Bennett can provide them with competency. 

It wasn't until the Rams signed Baker Mayfield off waivers that they found some semblance of stability on offense. Mayfield played in five games for the Rams, four of which came as the starter and, at the very least, kept them competitive. Bennett brings some similar traits to Mayfield, despite his undersized frame at 5-foot-11.

So, what are the Rams getting in Bennett? "A crafty quarterback whose leadership and managerial play style parlayed Georgia into a National Championship," SI Draft Bible said of the former Bulldog. 

While his undersized frame and arm strength will be discussed as his big weaknesses. Draft Bibles credit his strengths in the quick passing game, ability to make passes in between the hashes, and play action, which allows an offense to combine his mobility and ability to put extra velocity on his throws. 

In his final season at Georgia, Bennett made history, throwing for over 4,000 yards, becoming a Heisman finalist, and winning a second straight national title.

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