More Hype For Carson Wentz And Others, More Jared Goff To Eagles
By Matt Giraldi
The underwear Olympics that are the NFL Scouting Combine have served as fluff pieces for collegiate athletes for many years. Perhaps the biggest recipient this year has been quarterback Carson Wentz out of North Dakota State. For all the hype that has been heaped upon the young quarterback, he is being talked about as the top quarterback in the draft. As a result, Jared Goff, the incoming rookie out of the University of California Berkeley, is suddenly fodder. What’s even more amazing, is that Memphis’ Paxton Lynch has also fared well for himself and has gotten his name thrown around as a top-tier quarterback. All of which leads to the question: Can Jared Goff slip in the draft to the point where the Philadelphia Eagles could select him?
We know about the Cleveland Browns and their absolute need for a quarterback. The Dallas Cowboys are also in dire need of stability at the position as well, but have more pressing issues. Then there is the San Francisco 49ers and our beloved old coach Chip Kelly. With the drama that has circulated the airwaves on Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers are bolstering the fact that they need a franchise quarterback. The only question is whether Goff, Lynch, or Wentz are the perfect fit for Kelly’s offense. Given the fact that in Philadelphia we never truly found the answer to that enigma, the jury is still out there on whether we will in San Francisco as well. If I was a betting man however, the added mobility of Lynch would push him closer to an ideal fit in Kelly’s offense over local boy Jared Goff.
More from Eagles News
- Eagles LB Nakobe Dean jokingly makes his pitch for an assistant GM role
- Eagles captains earn high praise on roster blending veteran leadership, youth
- How former Eagles star Cre’Von LeBlanc helped Renegades upstage Cowboys
- Eagles 2023 schedule: Every WR duo Darius Slay, James Bradberry will battle
- Imagining better names for Jason Kelce’s Good Guy Award
That leaves the Eagles sitting at the 13th pick. The team has uncertainty with Sam Bradford as free agency is looming and there are no other (realistic) options on the roster. While head coach Doug Pederson has praised Chase Daniel’s abilities, he is not a quarterback I, nor many others, envision as a franchise quarterback.
Goff on the other hand fits that bill. Unless of course you’re finding ways to criticize the young quarterback on non-football related issues. Such as his hands. Hand size? Come on man. How about the most passing yards and touchdowns in a season in Pac-12 history last season? Those numbers surpass the likes of Carson Palmer and Marcus Mariota. Instead people are focusing on the hand size of the quarterback that had those accomplishments. The other criticism has been the offense Goff ran in college. While it will take some adjustment in the pros, I don’t see it being the same type of hindrance that it was for someone like Alex Smith.
Given the scarcity of the position in the upcoming free agency period, the Eagles are really left with limited options. Given the lack of ammunition in draft picks thanks to the errant Nick Foles trade, it will make it more difficult for the Eagles to move up in the draft as well. As is the case nearly every draft however, teams zig when you expect them to zag. Could all the fluff pieces about Wentz and Lynch just be smokescreens to hide interest in Goff? Sure. But the top quarterback in the draft, particularly one from Cal, has a history of being passed over by the masses. And if Jared Goff has even a partial amount of the talent that Aaron Rodgers has, the Eagles and their front office need to pull all the stops in order to acquire him on draft day.