Quarterbacks Goff, Wentz first two picks at NFL draft
The California kid is staying in California.
The Los Angeles Rams opened the 81st NFL draft Thursday night by making quarterback Jared Goff the No. 1 overall pick.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Goff’s selection before a restless gathering of fans in the Auditorium Theatre of lakefront Roosevelt University, shortly after the sun went down on another grey, chilly, early-spring day in the Windy City. Why restless? Because the Rams used nine of their allotted 10 minutes to submit their pick. Fans booed Goodell’s butt off for the unnecessary delay and, well, for being Roger Goodell.
Goff was born and raised in Marin County on the northwest side of the Bay Area, and starred for three years across the bay in Berkeley at the University of California. Now he will play pro football 640 kilometres down the Pacific Coast Highway in Tinseltown. The Rams relocated this off-season from St. Louis. To select Goff, they traded up to the draft’s top spot just two weeks ago, from No. 15 overall.
“I’m ready to go, ready to make a difference,” Goff told NFL Network on the main selection stage.
The 21-year-old is a highly accurate QB, possessing a strong enough arm to complete all requisite NFL throws, plus the touch, moxie and anticipation to squeeze passes into tight windows. The only knocks on the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder are his small hands, narrow frame and the fact he played in a pro-unfriendly spread attack at Cal.
Five minutes after the Rams picked Goff, the Philadelphia Eagles — as expected — grabbed the next best quarterback prospect at No. 2 overall, North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz. The6-foot-5,237-pound Wentz is dripping with traditional NFL, big-passer skills. Even though he played at the second level of U.S. college football, he dominated for two years as a starter there. Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians — a longtime NFL quarterback guru — said as long as any second-division prospect was dominant, disregard that concern. It’s the second straight year — and only the seventh time since the NFL/AFL merger — that the NFL draft’s first two picks have been quarterbacks.
The San Diego Chargers, picking third, took Joey Bosa of Ohio State, the draft’s top edge rusher. At 6-foot-5, 269 pounds he terrorized Big Ten quarterbacks, often evading double-teams.
“I’m so happy, so relieved,” said Bosa who, like, already talks like a surfer d’yuuuude. “Being picked third overall, that’s amazing. I can’t wait to get out there.”
Dallas, at No. 4, chose Ezekiel Elliott of Ohio State, one of the best running back prospects this century. Powerful, shifty and speedy at a shade under 6 feet and weighing 225 pounds, he’s an impact Day 1 performer in the pros and fills a gaping need for the Cowboys.
At No. 5, Jacksonville bolstered its defence already soaking with impact young talent by picking Jalen Ramsey of Florida State, everybody’s top defensive back in the draft. A possessor of rare, diverse talents, the 6-foot-1, 209-pound Ramsey can excel at cornerback, nickelback or safety in the NFL.