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LARams17
BUT look at what our front office did. Mortgaged the future for a QB. Ask yourself, would they have done that if they thought Keenum was the guy to take them to the playoffs? They could have drafted Paxton or Dak and kept all of this year's and next year's draft choices. They made their move and that should speak volumes.
I agree with this but... I do think JG was/is the most "pro-ready" QB in the last draft. The problem is, college football is no longer about acting as a farm club for the NFL. It's about winning and huge money. This means that teams run schemes that are successful at the college level and are not successful at the pro level. You really don't see these spread offensive QB's (which includes both Keenum and Goff) coming in and being top level players early on other than in very rare situations. Let's not use Russell Wilson as an example, he's a guy that's always looking to throw the ball first and has the legs to buy time and get some yardage when he does decide to run. I loved Wilson coming out of college but had no idea he'd be the player he's pretty much been from day 1.
Then you have to factor in that next year's crop of college QB's is supposed to be down, even from this year. If the Rams know that CK is not the guy (which they must or they wouldn't have drafted Goff), then this was still the year to take the high pick and go all-in, IMHO. I don't care if Goff rides the pine this season. I see the value of riding the pine and keeping the vibe of being the "king in waiting" if perhaps he's a bit fragile mentally. I also see the value of getting playing time and learning through experience. It's just really hard to know which way is the right/best way and I actually think the right/best way can be different for different players and personalities.
If the Rams improve in all facets this year and CK has them at 8-8 or better, then I'm confident Goff comes in next season as the starter, from day #1 and is a better player next year than he is if named the starter day #1 this year. I'm tired of the poor Ram's record as anyone, but I see this year as a transition year much more than the last 3 or 4 years due to both the move back to LA and the drafting of a QB so high in the draft.
I don't think this move mortgaged the farm. They really only lost next year's first round pick and while they won't gain back high picks, I think they'll get at least 2 compensatory picks, possibly as high as a 4th, in next years draft. Plus, trading up to draft high in the first round no longer kills your salary cap like it used to (See Sam Bradford).
As for Paxton and Dak... Let's see what either of them does in a real NFL game or 10. My money is on Goff being the much better long-term success story than either of those other 2 and if I have to wait a year to see that happen, I'll live with it. Now, if we are at this same place at this time next year, and the Rams are still looking to have a journeyman type QB lead the team over Goff, I'm going to start pulling what little hair I have left, right out of my head.
