I think we're overnuking this Snead comment. Stafford is old, he's got hard miles, and he isn't happy with his contract. So I don't care what Snead says publicly, of course the Rams want a young QB.
Also Les is a deep thinker but he gives shit away that McVay won't give away in interviews. But in this case, as it pertains to a young QB, everyone in the league knows the Rams want one. So if you want to dip into late round 1 to get a QB project you like and the 5th year of team control, jumping in front of the Rams is wise.
I view it the exact opposite. "I don't care what Snead says publicly,
of course the Rams aren't spending a 1st rounder on a QB."
In my view, Stafford is now happy as a clam. He and McVay went through the stress of a hard business negotiation, and now MS is glad to stay home in LA, with a significant raise, on a perennial SB contender. MS wasn't just "good" in the playoffs-- he showed he can still be elite. So in my view, the assumption is that MS plays in 2025 AND 2026. They've already done the hard part of negotiating... it's pretty obvious MS won't "truly" threaten to leave in 2026. I bet he and McVay have worked out a handshake deal already for 2026.
Which brings me to 2025. If MS wants to play 2 more seasons... and McVay probably wants to keep him 2 more seasons (providing his production doesn't fall off a cliff, and the last 2 playoff games would indicate that's unlikely).... then why would the Rams "waste" a 1st round pick on a QB who's
probably gonna ride the bench for two entire seasons?
If MS and McVay "want to keep the marriage going" for 2 more years, to me it makes no sense to draft a QB in the 1st round of 2025.
Rams are all-in for 2025, and they have plenty of needs/upgrades at WR, TE, swing OT, ILB, CB, and so on. With Jimmy G in the fold, a developmental QB does
nothing for them in 2025.
Again, this is all predicated on MS wanting to play beyond 2025. His public comments (to me) indicate he doesn't view 2025 as his final year.
Just my 2 cents...