The Los Angeles Rams are in full succession planning to move on from the Matthew Stafford era. Arch Manning could be waiting in the wings for head coach Sean McVay.
Manning is set to take over the starting job at Texas this season. He sat behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons in Austin. It’s unclear if Manning will stay at Texas for the 2026 campaign or jump into the NFL draft following the upcoming season.
The Los Angeles Rams are plotting for Arch Manning
If he does, the Rams might try and pounce on the much-hyped quarterback. Per Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, the Rams have “ties” to Manning.
“Manning is tied to the Rams for a very obvious reason: Les Snead’s stepson Tate is known to be a close friend of Arch Manning, and Snead himself was seen chatting up Arch Manning at the Texas pro day prior to the 2025 NFL Draft,” Robinson wrote. But it goes deeper than that.
“Speaking to a handful of Rams personnel sources, Manning is — at this moment — considered by the staff to be the lone Tier 1 quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, regardless of who else could potentially enter into the selection process. Why? The Rams covet Manning’s prototypical size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) and throwing acumen.”
The Rams believe Manning could be the next Josh Allen.
Matthew Stafford is willing to teach Manning
The Rams and Stafford already have a plan hatched if they land Manning next spring. Stafford would still be the QB1 while Manning learns behind the Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Stafford is not expected to play past 2027.
“Interestingly, a high-ranking Rams source told Yahoo Sports that even if Stafford were to choose to return to the team in 2026, the Rams would — at this point — still lean into drafting Manning (if he were gettable) and then put him on ice for his rookie season, similar to the Kansas City Chiefs keeping Patrick Mahomes on the bench behind Alex Smith in 2017,” Robinson wrote.
“The source added that the franchise believes Stafford would be open to such a scenario, knowing that 2027 will almost certainly be his last season in the NFL, regardless of what transpires during the course of the regular season and playoffs.”
Will the Rams tank in 2025 for the chance to draft a player who would be assumed to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, if he indeed declares?
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