The 2016 NFL season has not yet started but it seems Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams is already starting to become a draft bust. He could even end up being like JaMarcus Russell, the Oakland Raiders' No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007 who turned out to be a disappointment.
As noted by CBS Sports, Goff will enter the upcoming season not as the starting quarterback of the Rams. For a rookie player, this doesn't seem too surprising. However, given the fact that he was the No. 1 overall draft pick this year, he should be the team's main passer.
Jeff Fisher, the Rams' coach, probably changed his mind about Goff being a starter after seeing the team lose to the Minnesota Vikings last week during the preseason. Aside from the starter position, Goff will most likely lose the backup job to Sean Mannion because of that game.
"You know, I think it's going to take a little bit more time," Fisher said according to Rams journalist Rich Hammond. "That's not to say he can't be a two or start, but if we were starting right now, I'd probably have Sean as the two. Because it's all about being patient with him."
Being a backup, or a third-string QB is very rare for top draft picks. In fact, since 2008, all of the league's No. 1 draft picks became the starters of their teams during their debut seasons. These included Jameis Winston, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford and Andrew Luck.
Now that Goff has lost his opportunity to become the team's starter, he is being likened to Russell, another draft bust. Like Goff, Russell didn't become the Raiders' main passer after he intentionally missed out on training camp due to a delay in the negotiations for his contract. Aside from that, he also struggled in practice sessions with the team.
As for Goff, he's also struggling at practices but Fisher noted that the young athlete is improving.
"He's much better now than he was when we started," he said. "He has made significant progress. He's comfortable. He understands things. He has progressed."
With Goff as a third-stringer and Mannion holding on to the backup position, that means the Rams will enter the 2016 season with Case Keenum as their starting quarterback.
