The Los Angeles Rams are in the middle of one of their best seasons, leading the NFC with a 10-3 record behind MVP candidate quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Stafford, 37, is obviously in the twilight of his career, now in his 17th season. That means the Rams will eventually have to replace him with another franchise quarterback. Finding another Stafford through a blockbuster trade—like they pulled off with Detroit—doesn’t seem like a likely route this time.
That leaves the NFL Draft as the most realistic path, possibly in 2026, where the Rams could be in prime position to make a splash thanks to a move they made last year.
Rams hold two first-round draft picks
The desperate Atlanta Falcons traded with the Rams to acquire the No. 26 pick and select James Pearce Jr. In doing so, they sent their 2026 first-rounder to Los Angeles, giving the Rams two first-round selections next year. That could set up perfectly for the Rams to trade up in the 2026 draft to select Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, as Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema predicts.
"The Rams got a gift last year when they traded back with Atlanta and picked up a future first that now sits in the top 10, and there may be no better use of it than going all-in to secure their quarterback of the future. They’d likely need to part with at least their two first-round picks to move up to No. 1," Sikkema wrote.
Right now, the coveted No. 1 overall pick belongs to the 2-11 New York Giants, but because they don’t need a quarterback thanks to Jaxon Dart, they could be persuaded to trade it. As of now, the 4-9 Falcons hold the No. 9 pick, but based on how their season has spiraled, they could easily lose most—if not all—of their remaining games.
Fernando Mendoza has become the 2026 Draft’s hot name
Mendoza has emerged as the potential QB1 in the 2026 class. He recently led Indiana to its first Big Ten title since 1967 with a win over then No. 1 Ohio State, elevating the Hoosiers to the top spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. That rise has only strengthened the idea that teams like the Rams may need to aggressively position themselves to secure him.
For his career, Mendoza has thrown for 7,692 yards, 63 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. The Cal transfer is throw for a whopping 33 touchdowns this season, leading all quarterbacks in the FBS.