The Quarterbacks the Rams Franchise Has Selected in the First Rounds of NFL Drafts.

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

When the Rams select Jared Goff later today it will mark the eighth time they have selected a signal caller in the first round of the NFL Draft. However, we are including a ninth in this post. The ninth would be Jim Everett, who the Rams didn't draft, but traded for in his rookie season of 1986.

Here is a quick review of those picks.

Parker Hall

In 1939 the Rams chose Parker Hall with the third overall pick. Hall was a tailback, but in the single wing formation he was the passer, the thrower, whatever one wished to call it. Hall was the NFL's MVP that season, he led the NFL in pass completions and completion percentage and setting NFL records in those categories. Hall played until World War II called and after serving in the military, he returned to NFL for a season.

Bobby Thomason

1949 Bobby Thomason was taken with the seventh overall pick. However, the Rams were set at quarterback with Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin and he did not play much. In the Summer of 1951 Thomason was traded to the Green Bay Packers for a 1952 first-round and 1952 second-round pick. Thomason played well for the Packers that Fall, but after the season certain conditions of the trade were not met and the trade was cancelled. So, the following Spring the Rams sent Thomason and defensive end Jack Zilly to the Eagles for Jack Myers and a 1953 first-round pick. Thomason was a three-time Pro Bowler for the Eagles and retired after the 1957 season.

Billy Wade

With was was called a Bonus pick, in 1952 the Rams drafted Billy Wade. Wade had a two-year Naval obligation and wouldn't be available until 1954. Upon his return, he was a spot starter in 1954 and 1956. Wade was the Rams usual starter after Van Brocklin was traded to the Eagles (to replace a retiring Bobby Thomason) in 1958. Wade played well, set a couple of franchise passing records and was a Pro Bowler in 1958 but the Rams were not a winning team. So, right after the 1960 season Wade was traded to the Chicago Bears in a three-way trade that netted the Rams Zeke Bratkowski and a #1 draft choice from the New York Giants. That pick ended up being the 2nd overall pick in the 1962 draft.

Roman Gabriel

With that 1962 #1 overall pick the Rams drafted Roman Gabriel. Gabriel didn't put up pretty numbers right away, but he could somehow get the Rams victories. In his first four seasons he started 23 games and the Rams record in those games was 11-11-1. Not impressive unless you compare it to the record of all the other quarterbacks who started for the Rams from 1962-54, which was 4-26-2, a winning percentage of .133. Gabriel was the Rams starter from 1966 through 1972 when he was traded to the Eagles for Harold Jackson, running back Tony Baker, two first-round picks and a third-round choice. Gabriel still holds many Rams passing records and was the NFL MVP in 1969.

Terry Baker

In 1963 the Rams have the #1 overall choice and selected Heisman winner Terry baker. Baker was simply not an QB quarterback and spend most of his time at halfback after his lone start at quarterback in 1963. Baker was out of football by 1966.

Bill Munson

The following season, 1964, the Rams selected Bill Munson. He started quite a lot in 1964 and 1965 but was one of the QBs who were not winning games. Munson backed up Gabriel for a couple of seasons and then was sent to the Lions with a 3rd-round pick and the Rams received Pat Studstill, Tommy Watkins, Milt Plum and a 1969 1st-round pick which turned out to be Larry Smith. Munson was a solid NFL backup quarterback the rest of his career.

In 1986 the Rams did not draft Jim Everett, but after the Houston Oilers selectred him but could not sign him the Rams acquired him for guard Kent Hill defensive end William Fuller and two 1st round picks (one in 1987 and one in 1988 and a fifth-round pick. Everett played with the Rams through 1993 when he was traded to the Saints. Everett, like Gabriel, holds quite a few Rams passing records to this day.

In 2010 the Rams selected Sam Bradford. He was the Rookie of the Year and then had injury troubles in 2011. He had a solid 2012 season and a good beginning to the 2013 season until a knee injury felled him. He hurt the same knee in preseason 2014 causing the Rams to re-assess their quarterback situation. Bradford and was traded to the Eagles with a fifth round pick for Nick Foles and 2015 fourth round pick and 2016 second round pick.

That second round pick was packaged and sent to Tennessee along  their first-round pick (No. 15), the Rams own two second-round selection and a third-round pick in 2016. The Titans also will get the Rams' first- and third-round picks in 2017. The Rams received the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft plus fourth- and sixth-round picks this year.

It is being widely reported that the Rams will, indeed select Goff tonight.