2016 NFL Draft Profile: Jared Goff, QB California

Capable passers like California’s Jared Goff are a hot commodity in today’s NFL, but should the Minnesota Vikings look into the prolific quarterback?

Jared Goff will be one of the earliest picks in the 2016 NFL Draft. His quick release, ability to make any throw and success at the college level will put him high on the list of teams who are looking for a potential franchise quarterback to guide their team.

Goff shows great pocket presence and a can buy time by stepping up in the pocket to execute deep throws. He shows off an excellent touch to his passes and can get rid of the ball quickly if he needs to. When teams are looking to check off the boxes as to what they look for in a quarterback, this young man meets a majority of the requirements.

Still, he may to prove that he can play in a professional offense and succeed without using the spread on most occasions. Ball security is an issue as well, as he fumbled 24 times in the last 2 years and lost 11 of those. Add in 31 sacks and 30 interceptions in 3 years and you have a player who might take too many risks with the football.

Here are California quarterback Jared Goff’s numbers from the events at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine according to NFL.com:

Dec 29, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a pass in the first half against the Air Force Falcons at Amon G. Carter Stadium. California won 55-36. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 215 pounds

Arm Length: 32 3/4″

Hand Size: 9″

40 Yard Dash: 4.82 seconds

Bench Press: N/A

Vertical Jump: 27″

Broad Jump: 110″

3 Cone Drill: 7.17 seconds

20 Yard Shuttle: N/A

Jared Goff compares to:

CBS Sports: Matt Ryan, Falcons
NFL.com: Matt Ryan, Falcons

Fit for the Minnesota Vikings:

Minnesota could be looking for depth behind quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Also, backup Shaun Hill isn’t getting any younger. While Taylor Heinicke has shown some promise, the team likely isn’t ready to hand him the backup job without proving his worth for another season or two.

My Take:

Goff will be a top-10 pick. There are too many teams desperate to find their quarterback that a guy like Goff won’t last too long. Much like Derek Carr, Goff may struggle initially, but if he lands on a team with a good supporting cast he could break onto the NFL scene in a big way. Minnesota won’t be trading up for Goff and it’s nearly impossible that he’ll fall to the Vikings at the #23 overall spot.

Home/Minnesota Vikings Draft