Rams McVay Eyes Garoppolo, Cousins as Stafford Backups

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay expressed interest in reuniting with quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins as potential backups to Matthew Stafford during the NFL annual meetings in Phoenix on Monday.

Stafford, entering the final year of his contract with the Rams in 2026, led the league last season with 4,707 passing yards and a career-high 46 touchdowns, earning MVP honors while completing 65 percent of his passes with just eight interceptions over 17 starts. The 38-year-old veteran signed a restructured two-year, $84 million deal last offseason. With only undrafted rookie Stetson Bennett currently under contract behind Stafford, the team is actively seeking to bolster its quarterback room.

McVay, who served as offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins from 2014 to 2016, first prioritized Garoppolo, a 34-year-old free agent who spent the past two seasons as Stafford's primary backup in Los Angeles. Garoppolo appeared in three games last year without attempting a pass but started once in 2024, completing 27 of 41 throws for 334 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He has played on one-year contracts worth just over $3 million each with the Rams....