The Los Angeles Rams could be in a tough quarterback situation with the potential loss of Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Los Angeles Rams have one of the best quarterback rooms in the league, as reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford leads the way, with Jimmy Garoppolo serving as a top backup.
With free agency right around the corner, the Rams might find themselves in a tough spot regarding Garoppolo, who is considered to get multiple looks for quarterback-needy teams. One such team that may take a swing at the backup is the Arizona Cardinals.
Garoppolo was meant to be Tom Brady's successor, but that never came to be, and the New England Patriots traded him to the San Francisco 49ers. There, he got the bulk of his starts, throwing 13,599 yards, 82 touchdowns, and 42 interceptions in six seasons.
Following an ACL tear and a dip in production, Garoppolo would sign with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, followed by landing with the Rams in 2024, where he has remained.
The Rams have been fitted with one of the most stable backups in the league, but they may be priced out of landing him again in 2026.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals are looking into Garoppolo as the replacement for Kyler Murray, who is set to be released.
"Free agent Jimmy Garoppolo heading to Arizona is a strong option, too. The Cardinals have interest, and Mike LaFleur is considered very close with Garoppolo. "That's his guy," a league source said. LaFleur can create a clean path to restart his quarterback room by adding at least one veteran and drafting a QB. That makes Murray and Brissett expendable, and the feeling in Indy is that Murray wants out of Arizona.
"Something to keep in mind with Garoppolo: He has one of the league's best QB2 jobs with the Rams, who would welcome him back. Joining Green Bay as a No. 2 is also an option," Fowler wrote.
Fowler did mention the Green Bay Packers as a landing spot to be the backup for Jordan Love, assuming Malik Willis also exits, which appears to be on track to happen.
Conversely, Garoppolo might also get a look from the Miami Dolphins, who are also set to release Tua Tagovailoa.
The difference for the Dolphins and Cardinals is that Garoppolo might garner a chance to start for either of those teams, which could lead him to accept a job where he may be under center.
With Garoppolo staying with the Rams, he would only come in should something happen to Stafford.
There lies a bigger problem. If Garoppolo is offered a bigger contract from another team, the Rams will be left with a thin quarterback room. Stetson Bennett is the only other quarterback on the roster, and this would force Los Angeles to find their own backup.
If everything shakes out and the Cardinals release Murray and the Dolphins release Tagovailoa, both of those quarterbacks would also be targets for the Rams to explore as the backup option.
There are a lot of moving parts the Rams have to figure out if they can't convince Garoppolo to stay. Per Spotrac, the backup passer is predicted to make something along the lines of $2.3 million in 2026.
If that is the case, another quarterback-needy team like the Cardinals may offer something along the lines of a $4-5 million deal to lure him over.
The Rams do have two first-round picks, and they have been mocked to draft Ty Simpson. But if that ends up being the case, he may not be refined enough to serve as the backup.
There is a strong chance the Rams may have to explore a free agent option at quarterback, assuming Garoppolo exits the franchise.