Rams’ Jared Goff looking forward to time to decompress before rookie minicamp
Jared Goff, the Rams’ No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, is introduced to the media in Los Angeles.Â
Once the whirlwind ends, and after he’s able to get some sleep in his own bed, Jared Goff will return all of his focus to football.
That will begin next week when the Rams hold a rookie orientation and minicamp for draftees and undrafted free agents in Oxnard.
In the meantime, the Rams’ new quarterback — “our franchise quarterback,†Coach Jeff Fisher said by way of introduction Friday — finished his initial media commitments by meeting with reporters at a downtown Los Angeles hotel.
The Rams selected Goff with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft Thursday night.
He met family and friends for a late dinner Thursday night in Chicago, experienced a TMZ moment on a short walk from a car into his hotel, and then traveled Friday morning to Los Angeles.
“It’s been kind of nonstop since I heard my name get called,†Goff said after Friday’s news conference, reiterating that he was looking forward to returning home to Northern California to decompress for a few days before preparing for the rookie minicamp.
The Rams traded up to the top of the draft to select Goff, a passer that General Manager Les Snead said gave the Rams “long-term stability†at one of the most important positions.
“But then when you step aside, you go ‘Wow. We’re coming back to L.A. and there’s a move that actually got buzz in this town,’†Snead said. “So there is a ‘cool’ factor there.â€
The Rams introduced quarterback Jared Goff, the first-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, on Thursday. Gary Klein, Lindsey Thiry and Bill Plaschke break down his potential as a quarterback, and as the newest star in Hollywood.Â
Bruce Tollner, one of Goff’s agents, said his client felt good about the Rams even before they executed the trade to No. 1 with the Tennessee Titans.
“So it ended up absolutely perfect for him,†Tollner said.
The last time the Rams selected a quarterback with the first pick in the draft was 2010, when they signed Sam Bradford to a six-year, $78-million contract. Bradford did not sign until the eve of training camp in July.
Rookie salaries are now slotted, so the Rams and Goff could work out the terms of a deal much sooner, perhaps in the next week or two.
Last year, quarterback Jameis Winston was selected No. 1 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The day after the draft, he signed a four-year, $25.4-million deal that included a $16.6-million signing bonus.
Running back Todd Gurley, whom the Rams chose with the 10th pick last year, signed his rookie contract about 45 days after he was selected.
Goff said he would adjust to the change in speed faced by all rookies who make the jump to the NFL. He played from a shotgun formation at California, but said he has since worked on taking snaps under center. He also said he had experience calling pass protections.
“Hopefully, I’ll get a playbook pretty soon here,†he said.
The trade with the Titans cost the Rams their first-round pick, two second-round picks, a third-round pick, and first- and third-round picks next year. They also received the Titans’ fourth- and sixth-round picks this year.
So the Rams did not have any picks in Friday’s second and third rounds. They will have two fourth-round and two sixth-round picks Saturday.
The selection of Goff made quarterbacks Case Keenum, Nick Foles and Sean Mannion possible trade bait. Foles is the most likely to be dealt for a possible pick during or immediately after the draft.
Keenum, a restricted free agent after last season, signed a first-round tender that will pay him $3.6 million in 2016. At that price, he could be a desirable commodity for a team in need of a backup.
Follow Gary Klein on Twitter: @latimesklein
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