Rams Pick Jared Goff For First NFL Draft Selection

By Nick Wagoner
ESPN Staff Writer

For the second time in seven years, the Los Angeles Rams used the first overall pick in the NFL draft on a quarterback. They kicked off Thursday's festivities by selecting California's Jared Goff.

Goff is the 22nd quarterback taken with the first overall pick in the common draft era (since 1967) and the first Cal quarterback to land in the first round since the Green Bay Packers took Aaron Rodgers at No. 24 in 2005.

Rodgers tweeted congratulations to Goff after the pick was announced.

In an interview with ESPN just before the draft, Goff said he was a San Francisco 49ers fan growing up and would like to wear No. 16 with the Rams in honor of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana. Goff wore the number at California.

The Rams' choice comes after the team, which is returning to Los Angeles this season following its relocation from St. Louis, traded two first-, two second- and two third-round picks to the Tennessee Titans to move from No. 15 to No. 1. The Rams also received fourth- and sixth-round picks this year from Tennessee.

"I think I'm a good fit," Goff said. "I think how I felt with them and how they felt with me, I think there was similar thoughts about the way the game works, and I'm just excited to go down there and get a chance to work with them."

After moving up for the first pick, the Rams remained tight-lipped about their preference between Goff and North Dakota State's Carson Wentz, with coach Jeff Fisher repeatedly saying he didn't want to tip the pick and deny the chosen player the chance to get the phone call from the team telling him he is the guy.

After the Rams took Goff, Wentz was selected No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles, who had acquired the pick in a trade with the Cleveland Browns earlier this month. Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa went No. 3 overall to the San Diego Chargers. He was followed by running back Ezekiel Elliott to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 4, cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Jacksonville Jaguars, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley to the Baltimore Ravens and defensive end DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Tennessee Titans, meanwhile, moved up to the eighth spot, acquiring offensive tackle Jack Conklin after a trade for the pick with the Browns. The Chicago Bears also made a trade, moving up two spots to No. 9 to take outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. The New York Giants rounded out the top 10 by snagging cornerback Eli Apple.