LA Rams: 5 Potential replacements for Jared Goff

If the LA Rams move on from Jared Goff, here are 5 possible replacements

In the 2016 NFL Draft, the LA Rams traded with the Tenessee Titans for their first pick. Bu giving up a bundle, the Rams were able to make Jared Goff the first overall selection of the NFL Draft. A mere two seasons later, Goff led the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance for the 2018 season. Last September, the Rams gave him a huge contract lasting until March 2025.

Some ask whether Goff will be able to deliver on the field to justify his big salary. He is the highest-paid Rams player according to spotrac.com. Most of all, his salary accounts for 14.15 percent of the Rams 20202 salary cap. That’s a high pinnacle for a quarterback of such tender years. After all, he is entering just his fifth NFL season. All the while, he has some very good qualities and some things that he needs to clean up.

Rams’ head coach Sean McVay has re-added an offensive coordinator for the upcoming 2020 season. In introducing Kevin O’Connell as part of the coaching staff, McVay indicated O’Connell will be working with Goff this year. Perhaps, Goff’s 2019 performance was the victim of a stale offense or a porous offensive line. While he continued to throw for over 4600 yards, his touchdowns dropped and his interceptions rose dramatically in 2019.

A quick look at his numbers via nextgenstats.nfl.com reveals an average season by a high paid quarterback. His passing grid shows 10 of 12 zones where he was average or below the NFL average for quarterbacks. This season will be huge in determining his future in a Rams uniform.

A decision will have to be made whether the team jumped too soon in giving him an extension. Alternatively, the Rams could have picked up his fifth-year option in 2019 and made a decision in this off-season. It’s clear that the team is looking for a rebound from their star quarterback. But suppose Goff continues his regression and the Rams look for a replacement, here are five worth considering.

5 Potential replacements for QB Jared Goff

First, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will become an unrestricted free agent next March. The Dallas Cowboys tagged him with the franchise tag for this season. Perhaps the Rams could trade Goff for Prescott. While the dollars may not look “right”, there are always ways to navigate a deal that wants to happen.

Second, the Rams could plug Bryce Perkins in at quarterback in 2021. Perkins is a dual-threat quarterback from the University of Virginia. If he shows flashes in 2020, he would be a strong candidate for playing time in an event where Goff struggles. His contract would be salary cap friendly compared to Goff.

Third, the Rams could make a deal to move into round 1 to select 2021 NFL Draft quarterback prospect Justin Fields of Ohio State University. Fields is a quarterback whose style is very similar to Prescott. While Dak Prescott is not a true running threat, he is much more mobile than Goff. Expect the Rams to inch closer towards the dual-threat quarterback model.

Fourth, 2021 NFL Draft quarterback prospect Jamie Newman would be available in the second round of the 2021 draft. Newman will play collegiately for the Georgia Bulldogs after transferring from Wake Forest.

Fifth, Kellen Mond could be a special talent in the 2021 draft class. His head coach at Texas A&M, Jimbo Fischer, groomed Jameis Winston into an NFL level quarterback. Mond is probably better than Winston.

Will the Rams continue to ride the Goff train or decide to move away from him? Any more to any other player would cripple the team’s financial status. We already witnessed how dead cap money would paralyze the Rams’ free-agent pursuits if the Rams cut him. The Rams should find a trade partner if they want to go in a different direction. Let’s see what happens.

If the LA Rams move on from Jared Goff, here are 5 possible replacements

5 Potential replacements for QB Jared Goff

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