5 reasons Rams should start Jared Goff over Case Keenum

Oct 20, 2016; Bagshot, United Kingdom; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a pass at practice at the Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa in preparation for the NFL International Series game against the New York Giants. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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4. It’s time to judge Jared Goff

After signing his rookie contract, Jared Goff had about three seasons to show he deserves a second contract. Then after the third season, the Rams have the option to activate a fifth-year. By not playing Jared Goff this season, the Rams would limit their own evaluations of Goff down to about 32 starts before determining his future contract situation.

That may sound like a large number of games, but when evaluating potential franchise talent, its not. Consider quarterbacks such as Ryan Tannehill (70 games) and Andrew Luck (61 games). Expert and fan opinion is constantly split on what exactly these guys are. Luck may be an elite talent and Tannehill may but the answer in Miami but they each need more playing time for those determinations to be made. And for someone like Goff, who was compared to Matt Ryan, why not start his evaluation now?

Currently, Case Keenum’s passer is 77.5. Over the past 10 years, there have been six quarterbacks selected first overall and they have produced a combined 79.1 passer rating in the second-half of the regular season of their rookie year. Based on that, and Keenum’s rating, Jared Goff would likely give the Rams the same, if not a better chance at winning.

Keenum also ranks last in ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating among 31 qualified passers. Rookie QB’s Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz and Cody Kessler all rank ahead of him. With the upcoming schedule being in Goff’s favor, it is extremely likely that he would be an improvement over Keenum.

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