Would Rams think twice about giving Jared Goff a second contract?
On the surface, Jared Goff seems to have the stats of a quarterback you would want to have around your franchise for a long time.
The former No. 1 overall pick guided the Los Angeles Rams to an 11-4 record in 2017 and 13-3 record and Super Bowl berth last season. He passed for 3,804 yards, 28 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 2017 and was even better last year with a 64.9 completion percentage, 4,688 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Goff is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and still a bargain for the team with a cap hit of under $9 million. But in 2020, his fifth-year option would pay him $22.8 million — a more significant sum.
After his rookie deal is up is when Goff would get costly. The market for premium quarterbacks is around $30 million per year, if not more. That lofty price tag led Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio to say on an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” that he would not be surprised if Goff doesn’t get a second contract with the Rams.
Interesting note from @ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio: "I'm very skeptical about Jared Goff. I would not be surprised if he doesn't get a second contract with the Rams." pic.twitter.com/4HFspuZb9X
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 23, 2019
If you want to pick at Goff, you can point to his performance in playoff games as reasons why he might not be the answer. He has completed just under 55 percent of his passes and thrown for just 971 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in four playoff games. His play in the Super Bowl, where the Rams were held to three points, was uninspiring. His four-interception game against the Bears last season — one of the best defenses in the league — was also concerning.
There could be some thought that much like he has done with Goff and did with Kirk Cousins in Washington, Sean McVay could make many quarterbacks successful in his system. Using that thinking, the Rams might find greater value in drafting/developing another quarterback who is cheaper, allowing them to spend the money saved on other players, like defensive talent.
Unless Goff completely stumbles in the next season or two, my guess would be that the Rams sign him to a second contract, though the situation does not seem to be a slam dunk.