The Los Angeles Rams have seen firsthand the devastation a season can cause when a backup quarterback isn’t selected for the position. The Rams’ status with starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, 35, still appears uncertain a year after his injury-plagued season that saw them finish 5-12 in a year when he participated in only nine games.
Former No. 1 overall pick Carson Wentz is Stafford’s deputy, and rookie fourth-round selection Stetson Bennett hasn’t been with the team since the end of the preseason since he’s on the non-football injury/illness list.
Wentz’s contract expires at the end of the season, so the Rams may need to look for a backup quarterback this offseason once more. As a result, Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac has predicted
L.A. is expected to make an unexpected signing.
“The Rams convert $29M of Stafford’s 2024 salary into a signing bonus, freeing up $23M of cap space,” Sportrac states. “L.A. signs Jameis Winston to a 1-year, $4M contract to back him up.”
December 17, 2023, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA: Jameis Winston (2), quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, makes a gesture prior to the New York Giants game at Caesars Superdome.
December 17, 2023, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA: Jameis Winston (2), quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, makes a gesture prior to the New York Giants game at Caesars Superdome.
The USA TODAY Sports’ Stephen Lew
Right now, the Rams are anticipated to have slightly more than $43 million in cap room to spend this offseason because of general manager
Les Snead’s “remodeling” proposal for the roster. That figure, meanwhile, does not account for the Rams’ potential to free up additional room through budgetary adjustments.
Restructuring Stafford’s $160 million, four-year contract, which he signed after the Rams won the Super Bowl, is one of those possible levers. The Rams would have $66 million to spend after deducting the $23 million that Spotrac estimates the reorganization will free up.
That would undoubtedly be sufficient to sign Winston, the Florida State quarterback who was previously selected in the first round and has been the New Orleans Saints’ backup quarterback for the past four seasons.
Winston, who plays behind Derek Carr, has only been in six games this season and has only completed 53.2% of his passes.for 264 yards, three interceptions, and two touchdowns.
