2017-Present - McVay's run

2020 Positional Preview: Quarterbacks

Photo credit: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Rams’ starting quarterback Jared Goff will still be the top choice to captain the offense for the 2020 season. Until the NFL Draft, the depth behind Goff was lacking. Backup quarterback Blake Bortles was the No. 2, but was not re-signed after finishing a one-year, $1 million contract in 2019. This moved John Wolford to the remaining second spot for a few months.

Wolford was the only other quarterback on the roster until the Rams picked up San Jose State’s Josh Love and Virginia’s Bryce Perkins as undrafted free agents. Now Wolford has fresh competition, but he still as the edge with a year of the Rams’ offensive coaching under his belt. Here’s a look at the QBs on the roster:

Jared Goff: Starter

Goff has made quite a name for himself with the Rams. The 2016 No. 1 overall pick took the Rams to a Super Bowl in his third season. When head coach Sean McVay took over in 2017, the Rams turned things around and Goff was a major part of that equation. The Rams went from 4-12 to 11-5, making the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

In 2019, Goff had a career high 394 completions for 4,638 yards and 22 touchdowns. He has a career 1,166 completions for 14,219 yards and 87 touchdowns. This is on top of 54 consecutive regular season starts.

Although the Rams missed the playoffs in 2019, Goff still put up some decent numbers. He had a career high 517 passing yards in the Week 4 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also threw for 394 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 and 424 yards in Week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Throughout last season, Goff struggled with protection from his offensive line and worked with a weaker running game. He also digressed a bit, making poor decisions and inaccurate throws. The offense also failed to adjust when needed. Even though 2019 was disappointing, Goff is still the choice to carry the Rams. His stats speak volumes and he still has plenty of weapons on the passing front. The anticipated running back-by-committee may also provide some much-needed help. The Rams’ re-tooled and offensive line gained some experience, which should hopefully give him a little better protection in 2020.

John Wolford: Backup QB

Wolford was a preseason stud to say the least. He completed 25 of 44 passes and threw for three touchdowns in four games during the 2019 preseason. Wolford proved that he could maneuver out of tackles and is not afraid to keep the ball and run with it, taking hits along the way. He is a tough quarterback with strong wit and will be a good backup to Goff.

Wolford came to the Rams from the now-defunct Alliance of American Football. Wolford played for the Arizona Hotshots and was one of the league’s top quarterbacks. He led the AAF with 14 touchdowns and was second in yards with 1,617. He was also on the New York Jets’ practice squad for a short stint. Last season, Wolford was the number three quarterback behind Bortles. He still has great potential, and some stiff competition with the incoming rookies.

Josh Love: Possible No. 3 QB

Love had an impressive resume out of San Jose State. He joined the team as a walk-on. Last season for the Spartans, he had 293 completions on 481 attempts for 3,923 yards and 22 touchdowns. At 6’2,” 203 pounds, Love has a comparable frame to Wolford. He is more of a pocket passer but has a strong arm and is comfortable in the pocket. He is also evasive, quick and gets the ball out fast. Love has an uncanny ability to throw accurately even off balance at times. He was selected as Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. The Mission Viejo, CA native grew up a Rams and Los Angeles Dodgers fan, so he should feel right at home if he stays on the roster.

Bryce Perkins: Possible No. 3 QB

Perkins is the dual-threat quarterback that many NFL coaches are looking for in the modern league. The 6’3,” 215-pound passing machine set a Cavaliers record with 7,910 total offensive yards in just two seasons (2018, 2019). In 2019, Perkins had 319 completions on 495 attempts for 3,530 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for 769 yards and 11 touchdowns. Perkins is elusive against defenders, quickly dodging potential tacklers. He uses incredible speed toward the sidelines and downfield. His arm is no joke as he can launch the ball under great pressure with accuracy.

Perkins suffered a season-ending neck injury while a freshman at Arizona State. As a result, he had to travel through the junior college ranks in Arizona. He landed at Arizona Western Community College in Yuma where he led the Matadors to the NJCAA Championship game. Unfortunately, they fell to East Mississippi, 31-28. Virginia then recruited him in 2018.

2020 Expectations:

Goff will, of course, remain the starter for the Rams. He has a strong set of quarterbacks under him if they are ever needed. The question is who will stay and who will be released? Wolford is the strong backup to Goff in 2020, especially since he is the most experienced out of the three.

Between Love and Perkins is the tough decision. Perkins may be the stronger number three because he can pass and run equally well. These types of quarterbacks are much desired in the current NFL. It’s unclear how many QBs the Rams will carry on the active roster, but one of them could be sent to the practice squad if the coaching staff is impressed.

Sources: Pro-football-reference.com/

You can follow Erik Ho on Twitter @EHoinSDLVLA. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.

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