The Los Angeles Rams are looking to go all-in in 2026, but that doesn’t mean that they cannot also plan for the future of the franchise.
One of the main issues the Rams will need to resolve with their roster is their quarterback room, and specifically, their backup to Matthew Stafford, who can develop for a year.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a trade that would have the Rams moving down from 13th overall with the Minnesota Vikings for 2024 first-round QB J.J. McCarthy and a third-round pick to move back to 18th overall.
Rams trade idea lands McCarthy, 18th, 97th picks
“We know general manager Les Snead doesn’t value picks in the bottom quarter of the first round, so the Rams aren’t likely to move down very far if they do trade down,” Barnwell writes.
With the Rams seemingly limited trade-down range, the Vikings emerge as a viable option for the Rams to move down, thanks to this intriguing package Barnwell proposed.
Minnesota could send the 97th pick along with McCarthy to the Rams to move up from No. 18 to No. 13 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles would get a cheap backup quarterback to develop behind Stafford for at least the next year, while not moving too far back in the first round of the draft, and picking up a late third-rounder as well.
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With the Rams eyeing wide receiver help, one of Omar Cooper Jr. or Jordyn Tyson could be available with the 18th pick. If the Rams could turn the 13th pick into one of those WRs, McCarthy, and the 97th pick, it would be a massive win for L.A.
While McCarthy struggled a lot last year, with 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, and a brutal 35.6 QBR, as a backup to Stafford for a year to develop a bit more might not be a bad flyer for the Rams to take.
The Vikings’ experiment with McCarthy is seemingly over, and the Rams have experience developing quarterbacks who were busts on their previous team into starting quarterbacks in the NFL.
Who’s to say McCarthy can’t turn things around after a year with Sean McVay and behind Stafford? It’s worth a try, especially if it’s part of this quality trade-down proposed by Barnwell.
