At some point, Stetson Bennett IV may need to find another NFL team to play for. While he was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he has yet to appear in a game of consequence for them. This may have something to do with the fact that fellow former Georgia star Matthew Stafford remains at the top of his game. Will Bennett ever get his time to shine?
Well, he nearly got thrust into a potential starting quarterback situation. Late last week, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote about how the Joe Flacco trade with the Cleveland Browns came together for the Cincinnati Bengals. Starter Joe Burrow looks to be out for an extended stretch. He mentioned 13 different backup quarterbacks as viable trade options Duke Tobin was reportedly sorting through.
Breer wrote the following late last week about how Bennett was a potential Bengals trade candidate.
"After being blown out at home by the Lions in Week 5, Taylor and his offensive coaches sat down to discuss a bucket of quarterbacks that could be upgrades—guys who were good No. 2s behind strong No. 1s, No. 3s with some experience, or young guys with promise. On the list, culled by Duke Tobin and the personnel department were Stetson Bennett, Derek Carr, Kirk Cousins, Tommy DeVito, Flacco, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Johnson, Drew Lock, Tanner McKee, Davis Mills, Anthony Richardson, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston."
Tyler Greenawalt of Rams Wire reacted to this post by saying that both of the Rams' two backup quarterbacks of note in Bennett and Garoppolo were on the Bengals' list for trade candidates. Of the 13 trade candidates listed as viable options for Tobin, Bennett is by far and away the least experienced in the NFL. Then again, only he and Jameis Winston every won college national titles...
It is funny that Derek Carr, who abruptly retired this past offseason, was among the 13 players listed.
Stetson Bennett IV could be getting NFL playing time if he was ever dealt
Look. From an NFL standpoint, Bennett's days of getting any serious looks by Sean McVay and the Rams are probably over with and done. Stafford may be rapidly approaching 40, but his rocket right arm is as strong as it ever was. Garoppolo has started in a Super Bowl before, winning plenty of playoff games when he was the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Bennett is stuck...
So in a way, the idea that a team like the Bengals who were previously desperate for a quarterback had some palpable interest in Bennett suggests some other NFL team might one day soon. He is probably not an elite practice player in the NFL, but talent evaluators know what he can do when he has a loaded team around him and the stage is the brightest. We have to wonder if he will get his shot.
Ultimately, Bennett is not getting any younger either. He would not be the first former Georgia star quarterback who retired before ever playing a snap in the NFL. Sadly, he may not be the last. Frankly, unless he gets dealt or injuries pile up in Los Angeles, Bennett seems destined to join the likes of David Greene, D.J. Shockley and Aaron Murray as UGA star quarterbacks who never played a down.
In the meantime, the fact somebody else even considered him suggest he might get his opportunity.