The Rams are tied to Jared Goff for the next few years after signing him to a $134 million extension before the 2019 season. He’s their franchise quarterback and there’s no reason to believe the two will part ways this offseason.
But a recent report out of Houston has some Rams fans clamoring at the possibility of acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Texans. It’s been reported that Watson is unhappy in Houston after having no say in the hiring of GM Nick Caserio after he was told he would be involved in the hiring process.
It’s not just Rams fans who want to dump Goff for Watson, either. Hall of Fame receiver Isaac Bruce would jump at the opportunity for Los Angeles to acquire Watson.
“I’d love to see it, I’m just going to be honest,” Bruce told TMZ. “I think Deshaun Watson is a great talent. He can throw the football well. He’s a competitor. You don’t have to worry about if this guy is going to show up [on] Sunday. At all. He’ll be leading the charge as far as the first guy off the charter, first guy off the plane, first guy off the bus to go play a football game and win a football game.
“If Les [Snead] can pull it off, man, I’d be jumping on the table as well to make it happen.”
There are many hurdles on the path to making this actually work, which makes it almost impossible for the Rams to pull it off. Trading Goff this offseason would leave a dead cap hit of $22.2 million in 2021. Releasing him would leave behind $65.5 million.
Then there’s the draft capital required to land Watson, which would presumably be in the range of three-plus first-round picks. The Rams, of course, don’t have a first-rounder until 2022.
The front office will never admit there’s regret in giving Goff that massive contract in 2019, but Bruce says it’s hard to imagine there isn’t some buyer’s remorse based on the way Goff has played. He still believes Goff can turn it around in Los Angeles, though.
“Well, human nature automatically says you regret it because if the personnel that you paid that ticket to is not performing up to that standard, there is some regret,” he said. “But can we coach this guy to get back to that level of what he was? I believe it’s possible. I believe we have the coaching staff around Goff to coach him back up and give him another opportunity. But that being said, it has to come from within the player himself, if he wants it, if he’s willing. Unfortunately, what I’ve seen, just some of the body language of Goff, it doesn’t seem like he’s willing to take that path right now.”
In all likelihood, Goff will be the Rams’ starting quarterback next season, and probably the year after that. He’s under contract through 2024 and it’ll be difficult for the Rams to get out of the deal in the next two seasons.
Nothing is impossible, but expect to see No. 16 at quarterback for at least another two seasons.
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