Jared Goff, Too, Has An Uncertain Future

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Add yet another QB to the list of starters who could be on the move.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Rams plan to have open QB competition if Jared Goff isn’t traded. The keyword is “if,” indicating Goff, like several other starting QBs, could be traded this offseason.

It’s still hard to wrap our heads around why the Rams are so determined to move past Goff. He has won 45 games since 2017, led the Rams to the Super Bowl, beat Russell Wilson on the road in the playoffs, and played well while injured against the Packers. Yet, backing up John Wolford to start the playoffs was the first clue the Rams were no longer sold on Goff, the former No. 1 overall pick.

Before Rapoport’s report, Rams general manager Les Snead sparked speculation by making it known how the organization feels about Goff:

“Not going to get into specifics on those. That’s the beautiful mystery of the future. … Jared Goff is a Ram at this moment. It’s way too early to speculate.”

Not going to get into it, huh? The “at this moment” part got pretty into it.

The QB carousel should be wild. Detroit is expected to trade Matt Stafford. Houston may trade Deshaun Watson. The Jets are likely to part ways with Sam Darnold, and, if a better option exists, the 49ers could look to move Jimmy Garoppolo. Now, potentially, add in Goff.

I’d expect Goff, 26, to have a market. He’s not Watson and he’s not Stafford, though Goff would be an upgrade for multiple teams. Assuming the Jags and Lions draft their QBs, the Jets either draft or trade their pick for Watson, and the Texans keep Watson or draft his replacement via trade – here are the teams that Goff could upgrade: the Colts, Broncos, Patriots, 49ers (though, I doubt a trade would occur between division rivals), the Saints, Football Team, Bears, and Panthers.

Should the Rams keep Goff, he will have to go into an all-out summer battle with the QB with the best name in the NFL, John Wolford.

The date to watch is June 1. Los Angeles would save $12.75 million of Goff’s cap hit by trading him before June 1, though the Rams would still have to carry $22.2 million in dead cap.

Jared GoffRams

Written by Bobby Burack

Bobby Burack is a writer for OutKick where he reports and analyzes the latest topics in media, culture, sports, and politics..

Burack has become a prominent voice in media and has been featured on several shows across OutKick and industry related podcasts and radio stations.

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  2. Snead’s having buyer’s remorse from over-paying a QB who was ballin’ because teams were more worried about Gurley (before his knee situation) beating them than Goff. After their SB loss (and serious questions about Gurley and that knee), it was more than obvious that Gurley was the straw stirring the proverbial drink of that offense as Goff has looked BAD ever since (And there were serious red flags about him being a next-level QB when he was at Cal so I’m not surprised).

    • Amazing how fast the stock tanked for both Goff and Wentz (along with Jimmy G). Perhaps Jerry Jones was the shrewdest guy out there not buying high on Dak.

      Clay might not like this…but Tannehill is another stock that will plummet the minute Derrick Henry can’t run anymore.

      • Gurley and Henry create/created play action passing opportunities. I forgot which analyst/announcer discussed it during divisional weekend, but a good play action game makes an average QB good, good QB great, and a great QB HOF material.

        Just look at what SF and TB did to Aaron Rodgers in the last two NFCCGs. They had great defensive fronts with linebackers who could swarm to the holes. Green Bay’s running game can’t take off. Without an effective ground game, the play action loses its effectiveness. Rodgers then tries to force passes or takes too many sacks.

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