The Los Angeles Rams selected Jared Goff with the first pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. From the University of California, Goff emerged as the top quarterback prospect over North Dakota State's Carson Wentz. Goff did not enter his rookie season as the starter, but he ended up playing seven games.
It was a rookie season to forget. Goff finished with 1,089 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions. In 2016, the Rams suffered their 10th straight losing season. Jeff Fisher was the head coach at the time, and that proved to be a complete disaster.
In 2017, the Rams hired a young offensive coordinator from the Washington Redskins. Sean McVay came in and immediately turned the team around. The Rams went 11-5 in McVay's first season, and won the NFC West.
McVay not only turned around the Rams, but he made Goff a productive starting quarterback. He threw for 3,804 yards with 28 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Los Angeles suffered a 26-13 loss in the first round of the playoffs that season. While it was a disappointing ending, there was a positive vibe around the Rams. They entered 2018 as serious contenders, and Goff was a main reason.
In 2018, Goff set a career high in passing yards and touchdowns. He finished the season with 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns. The Rams have gone 24-8 in two seasons with McVay and Goff together. This brings up the question: Where does Goff rank among current NFL quarterbacks?
NFL's Top Quarterbacks
Goff has put up impressive numbers in a strong offensive system surrounded by incredible skill position players. Last season ended in the Super Bowl for the Rams. That game left the Rams with a bad taste in their mouths. Goff finished 19-38 for 229 yards and an interception. The Rams scored just three points and suffered a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots.
Jared Goff proved that he might not be ready for such a big stage, but Tom Brady is one of the best ever at handling pressure. This is why he is still among the league's top quarterbacks. If a top five were to be made in no particular order, Brady would be in it without a doubt. The other four would be Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson. All of these quarterbacks have one thing in common: winning.
Mahomes put together one of the best seasons ever in his first year as a starter. The other four all have Super Bowl championships. Brees and Rodgers have been at the top of the list for a long time. Their ability to sustain greatness year after year is extremely impressive. Wilson has been a staple of the Seattle Seahawks since he was drafted in 2012.
Where does Goff land?
Jared Goff lands somewhere in the third tier. He is not a top-five quarterback in the NFL; that is the top tier. The second tier begins with Andrew Luck. He is a true franchise quarterback. Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, and Carson Wentz are also in the second tier of NFL quarterbacks.
Goff is one of many young quarterbacks who have taken over their teams. At the moment, they are all interchangeable, but some are viewed higher than others. Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson are at the top of the third tier of NFL quarterbacks. There is a lot of hype around Mayfield, but he has played just one season. He will need to prove more in the upcoming seasons.
To answer where Jared Goff lands, he is a top-15 quarterback, nothing more. He gets a bad rap at times because of McVay. His poor rookie campaign is brought up when when discussing his legacy. It is unfair to say that Goff would be nothing if McVay never took over as head coach. At the moment, Goff is a solid NFL quarterback who has proved he can lead a team to the Super Bowl. What he needs to prove next is that he can win one.
With Todd Gurley at running back, and Aaron Donald on defense, the Rams will be contenders for a long time. This is a topic to revisit if and when Los Angeles brings home a Super Bowl title.
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