Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher (left) and general manager Les Snead at press conference at Courtyard L.A. Live after selecting quarterback Jared Goff (not pictured) as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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The Rams will have a presence today at the draft being conducted at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago as punter Johnny Hekker will announce a third-round pick.
“I was known as the ‘hero in the half-shirt, ‘ so I had to go with it”, said Elliott, who played with a bare midriff with the Buckeyes.
The first true freshman to start a game at Berkeley, Goff said his biggest adjustment will be the speed of the pro game. “I’m ready to go, I’m ready to make a difference”.
After the Rams took Goff, Wentz was selected No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles, who had acquired the pick in a trade with the Cleveland Browns earlier this month.
Goff started every game during his three college seasons at California, setting records with 977 completions, 12,220 yards passing and 96 touchdown passes.
Goff said he will wear No. 16, the number he has worn since he was 7 years old because of the 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana.
The Eagles duly took Wentz, the small-school prospect from North Dakota State, to potentially take over should incumbent starter Sam Bradford be granted the trade he is seeking after being upset by their move for the second pick.
Rams general manager Les Snead wasn’t anxious about having a light draft because he has been piling up young talent for four years, giving him a cushion to absorb the price necessary to get Goff.
Higbee will have to work on his blocking to see significant playing time as a rookie, but the opening for playing time is there after the Rams let Jared Cook go in the offseason.
“I know being the No. 1 pick brings a lot of responsibility, but it’s something I’m ready for and very excited for”, Goff said.
Teams weren’t rushing to get Tunsil, who spent the bulk of the pre-draft process as the No. 1 player on NFLDraftScout.com analyst Rob Rang’s board, who was selected 13th by the Miami Dolphins. He’s from California. He’s not going to be asked to do too much initially since the Rams still have a good defense, even while losing Chris Long, Jenoris Jenkins and James Laurinaitis.
With the rest of their picks, the Rams made a decision to get some toys for Goff to throw too. To wit: “Do you have a girlfriend – can we get you a Kardashian or something like that?” “This was the right thing to do at the right time for us”.
Former Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks Jim Everett and Vince Ferragamo turned out for Goff’s introduction as the next passer in their lineage.
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But the Rams have two fourth-round picks and two sixth-round selections Saturday, hopefully adding depth to a young core of talent.
