Do NFL Peers Rank Rams’ Stafford Top-10 QB?
In this story:
There is talent. And there is performance. And there is Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who when yo comes to how those two things mesh can be a hot topic.
According to the conversation among NFL executives, coaches and scouts, though, it all comes together in a way that means Stafford is a top-10 quarterback in the league. … still.
In a poll asking about the NFL's top quarterbacks by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Pro Bowler Stafford ranked as 10th-best entering this season, a fall from his sixth-best ranking last year.
Probably the biggest question facing the Rams in 2023 is whether Stafford will rebound after elbow problems and multiple stints on the injury list that turned 2022 into a lost season.
En route to the Super Bowl in 2021, Stafford tossed 41 touchdowns and racked up 4,886 yards in his first season playing for coach Sean McVay. If he's healthy, there's no reason to believe Stafford won't be one of the more productive quarterbacks in the NFL, as he was for the bulk of his first 13 seasons.
Last season, Stafford missed eight games but still completed 68 percent of his passes, fourth best in the NFL. The survey notes how important Cooper Kupp's health is for Stafford: Stafford averaged 8.7 yards per passing attempt when targeting Kupp, compared to 6.2 yards per attempt when targeting other players.
The Rams tumbled last season while the Kansas City Chiefs rose. In the poll, Patrick Mahomes topped the poll as the league's best quarterback. Last season, Mahomes won his second regular-season MVP, his second Super Bowl MVP and his second Lombardi Trophy. Expectations remain high for the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who are favorites to again win the title.
Can Stafford and the Rams get their offense together to compete with elite teams like Kansas City? Will Stafford lead the Rams again into the playoffs to get a chance at his second Lombardi? His peers might not think that highly of the Rams. But the high opinion of Stafford remains in place.
Follow Bri Amaranthus on Twitter and Instagram
Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Ram Digest message board community today!
Follow Ram Digest on Twitter and Facebook.
Want even more L.A. Rams news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
