With the recent opening of a slot on the Rams roster, I joined the myriad of fans who did the simple math. After all, when the Los Angeles Rams parted ways with injured cornerback Tre Tomlinson, the move was almost immediately followed by the team reuniting with veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. So it's only human nature to overlay that same pattern to the Rams' release of injured cornerback Derion Kendrick.
Social media is abuzz right now with speculation about the Rams reuniting with former defensive back Jalen Ramsey.
But the Rams roster is not just seeking an elite defensive back to round things into shape in time for training camp. It was made clear that this team has no interest in tasking either veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford or veteran backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with working in preseason games.
That leaves reserve quarterback Stetson Bennett with the entire preseason workload. While that seems okay on paper, it sets the team up to scramble if Bennett is injured in any of the three preseason games. And that simply should be avoided. After all, the final preseason game work at quarterback was handled by fourth-string QB Dresser Winn. Right now, the Rams seem to be content with just three quarterbacks.
But, there is one who makes complete sense to bring back, if only to become an extra throwing arm in training camp and the preseason.
It's time to bring back the Perk-u-lator
Even if the Rams have already decided that their three quarterbacks for 2025 are confirmed to be Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Stetson Bennett, there are benefits to both the team and the player to add a quarterback to the roster right now. Of all the possibilities, UFL MVP Bryce Perkins checks all of the boxes.
How so?
Even if the Rams merely want a guy who will knowingly be cut at the end of training camp, Bryce Perkins is the obvious choice. After a sensational campaign in the UFL, he is at the top of his game. The Rams' receivers will benefit from quality passers, and Perkins checks that box.
Even as the Rams coaching staff and roster have changed, Bryce Perkins played long enough for the Rams to know many of the coaches and players who are with the team in 2025. As such, the mutual familiarity allows for a rapid transition into the team's playbook and ensures that everyone who competes with and against Perkins will benefit from his talent and skills.
The Rams coaching staff and training camp competition is not a one-way street. Perkins would benefit tremendously from exposure to new offensive plays, strategies, techniques, and competition. So, even spending time in training camp with the Rams adds to his arsenal of offensive weaponry.
Most Valuable Perkins?
There are times when I wish that the NFL had an equivalent to the NBA G-League. If the Rams had the option to ship young players off to less competitive football, young football players with tremendous potential could achieve the number of reps required to develop, all the while remaining within the oversight of the Rams football organization.
Young QB Bryce Perkins would have been an ideal NFL candidate to ship to an NFL G-League for reps and development.
The Rams signed Perkins after the 2020 NFL Draft and retained him on the team's practice squad through 2022. It was through no fault of the player that he was simply not given enough repetitions to show rapid enough development, leading to the team parting ways with him after the 2022 NFL season.
He continued to pursue his football passion, eventually joining the USFL Michigan Panthers. The USFL and XFL football leagues would eventually merge into the UFL. And Bryce Perkins has emerged as one of the UFL's rising stars:
Something we already knew...
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) June 13, 2025
Most Valuable Perkins pic.twitter.com/VMy6YHsoS9
Does it make sense for the Rams to re-sign Perkins? Absolutely. Perkins stands 6-foot-3, weighs 214 pounds, and has respectable speed for a quarterback, clocking a 4.73-second time in the 40-yard dash. While competing for the Rams, he displayed a strong arm and mobility.
He has gotten much better in UFL competition.
Will the Rams bring him back? Stay tuned. As always, thanks for reading.a
