Could Rams Trade Up For QB in Round 1?

Without a first-round pick of their own, the Rams trade up to draft a quarterback to sit behind Matthew Stafford in this mock.

The Los Angeles Rams, as it currently stands, are accounted for in the franchise quarterback department with Matthew Stafford leading the offense. Of course, that didn't stop rumors from swirling this offseason that they were looking for a potential trade of their Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

For now, though, Stafford is a Ram and looking to bounce back with a healthy 2023 season and make it back to the playoffs. Even if the Rams do make the playoffs again it doesn't mean they won't explore the future at the quarterback position. 

One avenue to addressing the future of the position would be through the draft, except the Rams don't have a first-round pick. However, in the latest mock draft from CBS Sports, they trade back into the first round with the Cincinnati Bengals and proceed to take Tennessee's Hendon Hooker at No. 28 overall. 

There is a lot to like about Hooker as a prospect that could be appealing to the Rams. In his two seasons as a starter for Tennessee after transferring from Virginia Tech he threw for 6,080 yards with 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions while completing 68.8 percent of his passes. 

The talent of Hooker is hard to deny, but there are potential drawbacks to using a first-round pick on him. Not only will he be a 25-year-old rookie quarterback but there is no telling how he'll look after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 20222.

Hooker sitting and learning from both Stafford and Sean McVay is a scenario that could certainly be appealing to the Rams - and one that they could pursue if the price is right. 

However, for a team looking to retool the roster it might not be prudent to ship off draft capital for a quarterback that might not go in the first round. The Rams may eventually add a quarterback via the draft, but moving up to select Hooker is a move that might not be worth the risk quite yet. 

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You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

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