As the 2025 NFL offseason begins, it marks the start of evaluating the second wave of free agency.
The Los Angeles Rams currently have Matthew Stafford as their starting quarterback, but with his advancing age and a relatively weak quarterback draft class, the Rams need to start planning for the future and find a successor to eventually take his place.
With that in mind, there’s a quarterback available on the free agent market who has the potential to thrive if placed in the right system. This quarterback, Trey Lance, could be an affordable option due to his career not unfolding as many had anticipated, which has led to him serving as a backup in recent seasons.
At 37 years old, Matthew Stafford doesn’t have many years left of playing at a peak level. While the Los Angeles Rams are far from a rebuild, they need a quarterback with more upside to help push their offense beyond the standard performance Stafford has delivered in recent seasons.
Stafford finished the year with 4,295 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, but signs of regression became evident toward the end of the season. Known for his accuracy, Stafford’s throws became more inconsistent, and his pocket awareness also seemed to decline.
For 2025, Stafford is still the starting option for the Rams, but bringing in a quarterback who can learn from him and eventually take over in the coming seasons would be a smart move for the team’s long-term success.
For a Sean McVay offense, Stafford is proving to not be the right quarterback to fully operate it anymore, and the Rams who have a contending team need to consider looking at free agency for his replacement.
That player will be Trey Lance. The start of Lance’s NFL career hasn’t necessarily been fantastic. After being drafted third overall in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers, he only has thrown for 797 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions while rushing for 235 yards and a touchdown over two seasons in which he has played.
In 2023, Trey Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, and he played his first snaps with the team in Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles, although the game was already out of hand. While the Cowboys’ offensive situation wasn’t ideal, Lance made the most of it, showing improved decision-making and accuracy. He completed 4 of 6 passes for 21 yards and rushed for 17 yards on 3 attempts, showcasing his dual-threat ability. In Week 18, when Lance finally got a chance to start, his performance wasn’t stellar, but he still demonstrated potential by completing 20 of 34 passes for 244 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.
While Lance’s time with the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan didn’t go as hoped, if there’s any offensive mind in the NFL who could unlock Lance’s full potential, it’s Sean McVay. Lance’s athleticism and rushing ability could provide a new dynamic to the Rams’ offense, an element they haven’t had in recent years. With a young, talented group like Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams, the Rams could provide the right supporting cast to help Lance develop and reach his potential.
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