If you’re a football fan, you probably remember where you were when the Los Angeles Rams officially announced they were coming back to California. It was big. But arguably bigger was the massive gamble they took just a few months later. Everyone wants to know exactly when did Jared Goff get drafted, and the answer is April 28, 2016.
He wasn't just some random pick, though. He was the literal face of a new era for a team trying to convince Hollywood that pro football was worth their time again.
It’s kinda wild to look back on now. At the time, Goff was this skinny, prolific passer from Cal with "huge hands" (remember that pre-draft obsession?) and a mountain of expectations. The Rams didn't just stumble into him. They moved heaven and earth to make sure he was the one wearing the hat on that Thursday night in Chicago.
The Blockbuster Trade That Shook the NFL
Most people forget that the Rams weren't even supposed to pick first. They actually held the 15th overall selection. But on April 14, 2016—just two weeks before the draft—they pulled off a "king’s ransom" trade with the Tennessee Titans.
To get that No. 1 spot, the Rams gave up:
- Their 2016 first-round pick (No. 15)
- Two second-round picks
- A third-round pick
- Their 2017 first-round and third-round picks
Basically, they emptied the cupboard. The Titans, who already had Marcus Mariota, were happy to stockpile talent. Meanwhile, Jeff Fisher and Les Snead were betting their entire careers that the kid from Novato, California, could handle the bright lights of Los Angeles.
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Draft Night: April 28, 2016
When Commissioner Roger Goodell walked onto the stage at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, the suspense was... well, honestly, it wasn't that high. By the time the clock started, everyone knew it was going to be Goff. The real debate leading up to it had been "Goff vs. Wentz," but the Rams had locked in on their guy.
Goff became the first player selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. He hugged his family, put on that navy and gold cap, and walked into a storm of media coverage. He was the first No. 1 overall pick for the Rams since Sam Bradford in 2010.
It’s funny to think about his college stats. At Cal, he broke basically every record they had. He threw for 4,719 yards and 43 touchdowns in his final season alone. But the NFL is a different beast. People questioned if his "Air Raid" background would translate to a pro-style offense.
A Rough Start and a Remarkable Second Act
If you only watched Goff's rookie year, you probably thought he was a bust. He didn't even start right away. He sat behind Case Keenum for nine games. When he finally got on the field, the Rams went 0-7 in his starts. He looked lost. The "bust" labels were flying.
But then Sean McVay showed up in 2017.
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Suddenly, everything clicked. Goff went from a struggling rookie to a Pro Bowler. He led the Rams to the playoffs, then eventually to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2018 season. Even though the Rams eventually traded him to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford, Goff’s legacy in LA is complicated but significant. He was the bridge to the team's current success.
Why the 2016 Draft Still Matters Today
Honestly, that draft changed the trajectory of the whole league. If the Rams don't trade up for Goff, maybe they don't hire McVay. If they don't hire McVay, maybe they don't win a Super Bowl a few years later.
And look at Goff now in Detroit. He’s completely reinvented himself. He’s no longer just "the guy who got drafted first." He’s a veteran leader who took a struggling Lions franchise to the brink of a Super Bowl. It’s one of the best "second act" stories in sports.
What Most Fans Get Wrong About the Goff Pick
A lot of people think the Rams regretted the pick immediately. That’s just not true. While the ending was messy, Goff gave that franchise stability they hadn't seen since the "Greatest Show on Turf" days.
Another misconception? That he was a "consensus" No. 1. He really wasn't. Up until the trade happened, many analysts thought Carson Wentz had the higher ceiling because of his size and rushing ability. The Rams chose Goff because of his quick release and his ability to process information—traits that have served him well in his long career.
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Key Stats from Goff’s Draft Profile:
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 215 lbs
- College: University of California, Berkeley (Cal)
- Draft Position: 1st Round, 1st Overall
- Draft Date: April 28, 2016
If you’re looking to track how Goff has performed since that night in 2016, the best way is to look at his "post-LA" numbers. Many expected him to fade away after the trade to Detroit. Instead, he’s posted some of the best completion percentages and touchdown-to-interception ratios of his career.
You can actually learn a lot from how he handled that transition. He didn't complain. He just put his head down and worked. For any athlete or professional facing a setback, that’s a pretty solid blueprint to follow.
Check his current season stats to see how he’s stacking up against the new generation of QBs. It's pretty impressive for a guy who many wrote off back in 2021.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to dig deeper into how that 2016 draft class panned out, I can help you compare Goff’s career stats with Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott, who was the steal of that same draft in the fourth round. It’s a fascinating look at how draft position doesn't always dictate long-term success.