L.A. Rams Pick Jared Goff First in NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Rams surprised no one by selecting Jared Goff with the first pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Goff called hearing his name first an “unbelievable moment.”

The Philadelphia Eagles selected North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz at two, the San Diego Chargers chose Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa at three, the Dallas Cowboys took his teammate Ezekial Elliott at four, and the Jacksonville Jaguars snagged Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey in the fifth spot.

The Rams last picked first in 2010, when they selected quarterback Sam Bradford. Rather than “earning” the pick through futility on the field, the Rams this time obtained the top pick through a trade. Los Angeles sent their 2016 and 2017 first-round picks, along with a host of other selections, to the Tennessee Titans for the #1 selection and picks in the fourth and sixth rounds.

Goff threw for 43 touchdowns against 13 interceptions and 4,719 yards this past season at Cal. The six-foot-four gunslinger fumbled a lot, but his three years of experience leading a pro-style offense made him a coveted player among scouts. He boasts average speed, running a 4.8 forty, which as a pocket passer did not detract from his value. Breitbart Sports’s Cole Muzio evaluated Goff as not a sure thing: “I see the Cal product as having a high ceiling as a middle of the road NFL QB with some significant bust potential. That said, the Rams brass appears to disagree.”