Los Angeles Rams Trade Up, Pick Future QB In Latest Mel Kiper Jr. NFL Mock Draft

According to ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., the Rams are about to get their QB of the future.

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) against the / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams have a first round pick in the NFL Draft for the first time since 2016. In that draft, they selected now-Lions quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick.

This year, should they decide to stay put at No. 19, and with Matthew Stafford entering the season at 36 years old, they could very well decide to go quarterback once again.

However, according to ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft, they should be able to wait until round No. 2 to get their QB of the future. That said, they are going to get aggressive to do so.

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) against the / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Per Kiper, the Rams are set to trade up with the Los Angeles Chargers to the No. 37 pick, where they will take Washington QB and Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr as the next franchise signal-caller. In exchange, the Rams will send back Nos. 52, 83, and 196 to the Chargers.

"Yes, the Rams have Matthew Stafford. Yes, they brought in Jimmy Garoppolo. And yes, they drafted Stetson Bennett in Round 4 last year. But Stafford is 36 and has dealt with serious injuries in recent years, while Garoppolo is on a one-year deal and Bennett spent his rookie season on the reserve/non-football illness list," Kiper said. "Penix could be the future franchise signal-caller for coach Sean McVay and the Rams. He is accurate to every level of the field and is a great decision-maker."

Last season In his two seasons with Washington, Penix completed 725 of 1,109 passes for 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns with 19 interceptions, leading the Huskies to a Pac 12 title and a national title appearance last season.

Meanwhile, back in the first round, Kiper believes the Rams will select UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, hoping to improve a pass rush that just lost Aaron Donald.

"Latu is the best pure edge rusher in this class, and he already has an array of pass-rush moves," Kiper said. "I haven't heard any recent red flags around his medical reports, as there were some questions last fall because he medically retired from football because of a neck injury he suffered when he was at Washington in 2021."