THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — With accidents persevering with to mount and a former No. 1 draft decide out there, the Los Angeles Rams shook issues up on Tuesday by claiming quarterback Baker Mayfield off of waivers.
The Rams’ 2022 season has been a disappointment following their storybook Tremendous Bowl win final season. Mayfield, who was the No. 1 decide within the 2018 by the Cleveland Browns, was waived by the Carolina Panthers Monday. He is now anticipated to fill in for Matthew Stafford all through the rest of the season.
Stafford was positioned on the injured reserve final week with a spinal twine contusion. His earliest attainable return could be in Week 17, although Rams coach Sean McVay mentioned “there is a good likelihood” the quarterback won’t play once more this season.
What does all of it imply for Mayfield and the Rams? We dive into the largest questions surrounding the quarterback’s new digs.
1. Why did the Rams make this transfer when they’re all however out of the playoff race?
The Rams wanted one other quarterback. With Stafford on injured reserve with a spinal twine contusion and sure out for the remainder of the season, they had been already leaning on backup John Wolford and third-string QB Bryce Perkins.
Wolford, who began the Rams’ Week 13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, was checked out a number of instances by the group’s medical employees in the course of the recreation and listed on Monday’s harm report with a neck harm.
Perkins has began one recreation in his profession — a Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs — and the Rams wanted a extra confirmed possibility.
Sure, the Rams are primarily eradicated from the playoff image, however Los Angeles nonetheless has 5 video games left they usually want one other wholesome quarterback.
The Rams are additionally conscious that if Mayfield indicators with one other group this offseason, they may obtain a compensatory decide in return.
2. The place does Mayfield match on the depth chart?
Mayfield is anticipated to be the Rams’ starter, not less than whereas Stafford is on injured reserve.
Now, whether or not that would be the case on Thursday when the Rams host the Las Vegas Raiders (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) stays to be seen, as Mayfield would have two days to study the playbook. There’s an opportunity Mayfield might play Thursday, a group supply informed ESPN. The group is within the means of sending him the playbook to verify he can examine the offense on his flight to Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, a supply informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen mentioned the group is “sensible” about what it means to carry somebody in at this stage of the season “and what that really would possibly appear like.” “Whether it is one thing that may present a spark and anyone that may are available and assist us compete to win soccer video games, that is the last word aim for the final 5 weeks of the season,” Coen mentioned.
3. How does he match into Sean McVay’s offense?
When requested about how Mayfield suits into this Rams offense, Coen mentioned, “it is simply type of buying expertise, to be sincere.”
“Buying anyone to come back in and consider him, but additionally our offense,” Coen mentioned. “Persevering with to guage the offense [and] the opposite gamers. It is extra so about buying expertise. Simply getting anyone in right here that we will proceed to develop some aggressive nature inside the room.”
Coen, who was on the Rams’ employees in 2018 when the Cleveland Browns drafted Mayfield with the No. 1 decide, recalled that McVay favored Mayfield when he was popping out for the draft. Coen mentioned McVay and Mayfield “had some conversations with him” and that McVay “simply favored him as a dude.”
4. How does Mayfield match into the locker room?
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris mentioned he would not know that Mayfield will need assistance to acclimate to this Rams locker room. “I believe he is acquired sufficient social consciousness to have the ability to do this with the group that he is coming to, with a few of the folks you are going to be round,” Morris mentioned. “It is arduous to be round [this] kind of robust management, these kind of robust folks and never attempt to discover your approach.” Morris referenced linebacker Bobby Wagner, who had a management function for a very long time in Seattle, saying, “He was capable of finding his approach across the locker room first and ease his approach into it. “And guys with frequent sense and guys with quite a lot of moxy about themselves, they type of do this naturally,” Morris mentioned.
5. May Mayfield be on the roster subsequent season?
Making this transfer would possibly point out the Rams are fascinated about determining another choice at backup quarterback going ahead, however I am beneath the impression the entrance workplace has principally centered on what this implies for the remainder of the season, somewhat than 2023.
Wolford, who has been with the Rams since 2019, might be a free agent after this season and Perkins would not have a lot NFL expertise.
Whereas the Rams will wish to consider Mayfield, they’re additionally conscious he could be enjoying with a depleted offense: lacking vast receivers Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson and enjoying behind an offensive line that has began 12 completely different combos in 12 video games.