The Los Angeles Rams have experienced considerable success under the guidance of quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Since acquiring the former No. 1 overall pick from the Detroit Lions in 2021, Stafford is 37-25 with a Super Bowl victory under his belt. But the 37-year-old won't be around forever, and is nearing the end of his career.
Luckily for Los Angeles, they're armed with two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and could use one of those picks to select their signal-caller of the future.
Rams predicted to select Fernando Mendoza in 2026 draft
In a recent mock draft from Sports Illustrated, Daniel Flick has the Rams selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the 15th overall pick, via the Atlanta Falcons.
"No matter if Matthew Stafford returns for 2026, the Rams, with two first-round picks thanks to a draft-day trade with the Falcons in April, should be thinking about quarterbacks. The 6' 5", 225-pound Mendoza may go much earlier than No. 14, with his combination of size, arm talent, toughness and accuracy building the profile of a potential No. 1 pick," wrote Flick.
"But the Rams shouldn’t hesitate if Mendoza slips. He’s been among college football’s most efficient passers, and the strides he’s made within Indiana’s offense from spring to fall inspire confidence that he can quickly adapt to an NFL system."
Bringing Mendoza into the fold would be huge for Los Angeles, allowing Sean McVay to develop a young quarterback for the first time since Jared Goff was a youngster.
Even if Stafford does return for another season, it would allow the Indiana product to sit and learn from a future Hall of Famer, which would only be beneficial for him in the long run.
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