Los Angeles Rams expect QB Jared Goff to be long-term starter

LOS ANGELES -- When the Los Angeles Rams made the unprecedented move to trade from the 15th pick in the 2016 NFL draft to the first overall pick, it was obviously with drafting their franchise quarterback in mind. The question being, did they prefer Cal's Jared Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz?

Fact is, they preferred Goff all along, and used the two weeks in between the trade and making the first overall pick Thursday night simply to strengthen their conviction.

And, of course, drum up the drama leading up to the moment NFL commissioner Roger Goodell walked to the podium in Chicago and revealed the Rams had indeed selected the three-year starter Goff to be the new face of their franchise.

As the Rams usher in their new era in Los Angeles, they hope Goff is the quarterback that elevates them from competitive to contending for the playoffs.

"We didn't want to just come home, we wanted to come home and contend -- and contend consistently," general manager Les Snead said. "This was the right thing to do at the right time for us."

Goff is up for the challenge.

"I'm ready to go," Goff said. "I'm ready to make a difference."

Why Goff?

Goff was the more ready-to-play NFL quarterback, having started for three years at Cal, while Wentz had the higher ceiling but wasn't as polished coming from the Division I FCS level.

The Rams are convinced they have a playoff-caliber team across the roster, but need a quarterback.

Goff is a quarterback the Rams believe can start on Day 1 and someone they can lean on not just to manage games but to win them when needed.

"Quarterback is a key ingredient if you want to contend consistently," Snead said. "We ID'd Jared, and once we did, we had to figure out a way to go get him. This was the right thing to do at the right time for us."

The 6-foot-4, 215-pounds Goff started three straight years at California, where he complied the most completions, passing yards and touchdowns of any quarterback in school history. He finished his career with 4,719 yards and 43 touchdowns in 2015 and owns 26 school records.

He is being counted on to compete for the Rams' starting job from Day 1. His primary competition will be Case Keenum.

"We've always had this philosophy that we're going to play them when we think they're ready," head coach Jeff Fisher said. "We're not going to subject them to fail, so whenever that is, you're going to see him under center, but we're not going to come out and Day 1 announce him as the starter. I think it's going to happen pretty soon, sooner than probably later, but we have got some things to do coaching wise, the coaching staff. He's got to learn the offense, get to know his teammates, start getting in sync with the receivers, so when that happens, I don't know."

Goff can't wait to get started.

"I'm excited (the draft process) is behind me," he said. "But at the same time, it's only the beginning, only the beginning of what I hope is a long career."