ANAHEIM, Calif. — Sunday’s game at The LA Memorial Stadium between the Eagles and Los Angeles Rams features the first meeting between the top two picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, but it sounds as though Jared Goff and Carson Wentz very nearly ended up on opposite teams.
The Rams moved up to the top selection in a trade with the Tennessee Titans on April 14, 2016, with the intention of selecting Goff. Only, Goff says that he was nowhere near Los Angeles when he found out the news that the Rams had moved up to pick him.
“I did have all the pre-draft meeting with the Eagles,” Goff said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday. “I really did like their staff, and everything they do offensively. I thought it was pretty advanced. I was actually on my visit with the Eagles when the Rams traded up. It’s just the way it worked out. I really did like their staff, as well.”
Both Wentz and Goff are experiencing career renaissances in their second seasons with Wentz completing 60.7 percent of his passes for 3,005 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions while Goff owns a 62.2 percent completion percentage for 3,184 yards and 20 touchdowns with six interceptions.
The Eagles and Rams own the top scoring offenses in the NFL averaging 30.1 points per game, thanks in large part to the explosive play of the pair of second-year quarterbacks.
Despite the interest shown by the Rams leading up to the draft, Wentz says that he believes that both ended up in the ideal situations they were meant to play in.
“I just felt a great connection with this coaching staff,” Wentz said at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. “And with the city being so blue-collar and workmanlike. I liked everything about it. I think it ended up working out good for both of us.”
Matt Lombardo may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoPHL.