The last No. 1 overall pick to start and win his first game at quarterback was former Houston Texans signal caller David Carr back in 2002.
The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly planning on rookie No. 1 pick Jared Goff to start the team’s opening game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
“He may start on Monday night,” Jeff Fisher said per Connor Orr of NFL.com. “That’s the goal. We understand the environment, believe me. He does. We’ve had lengthy conversations. If I had concerns about whether Jared could handle this, I wouldn’t be talking about Jared right now. He can handle it.”
This seems the logical choice considering what the Rams gave up to the Cleveland Browns to catapult into the top pick to select Goff.
With the Rams also putting both Nick Foles and Case Keenum up for trade, who else is left? Unless Fisher gets out there and plays quarterback, Goff is the man.
If Goff loses under the spotlight of national television in his first start, he’ll at least be in good company.
Since Carr won his initial NFL start, the likes of Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck and Jameis Winston all lost their first starts after being taken atop the draft.
Maybe Goff will defy the odds. He will be going up against the team he grew up cheering for in a region he’s called home his entire life.
The game is set for September 12th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.