The Rams traded up to No. 1 in the draft and will select a quarterback with that pick. But which one? There have been conflicting reports about who the team is planning to take (if they know themselves), and different assessments of who they should take, as well.
I firmly believe the Rams know who they want. They've leaked different preferences either because the league asked them to, to keep draft interest at a fever pitch, or as a contract negotiating advantage with the quarterbacks themselves. Tell Jared Goff's representatives, if you aren't agreeable to our terms, we'll make a deal with Carson Wentz. Or just to mess with all of us because they're a bunch of jerks, I don't know.
To give up the kind of bounty the Rams gave up, they've GOT to have a preference. No way are they sitting there saying, Shucks, they both look nice, now we've got to pick one.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes about the pair here. He's the longtime beat writer (former? Not sure what happens when a team moves; does St. Louis still consider the Rams their team?). He's seen more hints that the Rams like Goff, and that's also what both Adam Schefter and Jason La Canfora believe.
The article lays out the differences between the two quarterbacks, and there are a number of them. Arm strength, mobility, level of competition, starting experience.
Right now, without knowing for sure where they'll end up, I like Wentz a little better. Level of competition doesn't worry me too much -- it's a big jump to the NFL for any college quarterback, whether coming from a big-time conference like Goff or an FCS school like Wentz. He's much more of a running threat, making him more likely to help his value like Andrew Luck or Blake Bortles. Stronger arm, too.
Anyway, we've got two weeks to talk about what kind of situation each will land in. One will go to a St. Louis team with a below-average offensive line and a frankly ugly receiving corps. The other will go to Cleveland, Philadelphia or maybe San Francisco.
And then we can start debating who will take Paxton Lynch.
--Andy Richardson