Two-time national champion quarterback Stetson Bennett could not have dreamed of a better landings spot when he received the call from Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay at the NFL draft last month.
The Georgia legend – the MVP in his two College Football Playoff final appearances after joining the team as a walk-on in 2017 – was taken in the fourth round by the Rams in Kansas City, joining fellow Bulldogs icon Matthew Stafford in the QB room in LA.
Despite his pedigree at the college level, Bennett was not a highly-rated prospect heading into the draft like former No.1 overall pick Stafford, meaning he had to wait until day three to hear his name called amid concerns over his size, arm and athleticism to play the position at the NFL level.
But the Rams feel differently about the 25-year-old and Bennett's new mentor, Super Bowl champion Stafford, certainly admires his game. “His ability to lead this team is pretty special," was the former Detroit Lions signal caller's verdict on ESPN as Georgia routed TCU at the Rams' SoFi Stadium in January to make it back-to-back national titles for the programme.
The Rams head into the 2023 season after a miserable year for the franchise blighted by injuries, with superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Stafford among the players to go down as they limped to a 5-12 record and put up the worst-ever defence of a Super Bowl title.
There were fears Stafford would have to retire as a result of his spinal contusion, but he does not require surgery and the organisation hopes a prolonged break since being knocked out of the November defeat to the New Orleans Saints will mean his body is in good shape for training camp this summer.
But the Rams want to be better prepared for potential injuries to their star quarterback next season after his absence proved costly, with John Wolford unable to provide competent play when stepping in and only the late-season waiver claim for Baker Mayfield restored some semblance of playmaking ability for the team.
Snead believes the team have found the right man to learn from Stafford and step in if required. "You just come away going, ‘Wow, I thought people said that guy was just a kind of manage-the-game-type QB,’” the GM told ESPN. “But what you did is you just go, ‘Whoa, wait a minute. Look at that guy move. Look at him buy some time. Look at him anticipate some throws.’ And just you come away thinking, ‘Wow, he was a weapon for Georgia’.”
Having committed his own future to the organisation after doubts crept in at the end of a disappointing season, McVay is eager to get down to work with Bennett, arguing he was unfairly marked down for being the leader of a hugely successful college programme with NFL-calibre players across the field.
"People take for granted that this guy is just a really good football player," McVay said. “It minimized the athleticism, the ability to create off-schedule,” McVay said. “He's a natural thrower of the football. He can play with great anticipation, throws the ball with accuracy, and plays within the timing.
“And he's around great players, but he elevated those guys. He sees the field well. You can seize processing things quickly and he's a lot better athlete than people give him credit for.
“What a great opportunity for him to come in and learn from a perennial All-Pro, a great football player who's been doing it at a high level.
“And it's not exclusive to just the great things you see Matthew do on Sundays, but the level of preparation and professionalism that exists throughout the course of the week. His rhythm and routine, the way that he just seamlessly, naturally interacts with guys.
“Stetson's a good football player and we're excited to get to work with him.”
