The NFL Draft. For fans of American football, it’s one of the key events of the year. Superbowl victories are born and die in equal measure in this one three day extravaganza. For the prospects being selected, draft day is something they have dreamed about since they were children first playing the game. It’s very rare that headlines are made before the draft itself, but that’s exactly what happened last Thursday.

The Los Angeles Rams shocked the NFL by making a blockbuster trade with the Tennessee Titans to secure the first overall pick. It’s been well known over the past weeks and months that the Titans were looking to trade the first overall pick, but no one was predicting it would be the Rams that would make the deal.

On the face of it, the move makes a lot of sense. The L.A Rams have the majority of the parts needed to become a consistent play-off team, but their quarterback play has been a source of concern for them for the past season. Case Keenum and Nick Foles have not established themselves as the definitive starter, and this is what prompted the trade.

The Rams have arguably the best young running back in Todd Gurley, along with a good defense also. The blaring question however is under centre. The prospect of selecting a player such as Jared Goff or Carson Wentz was clearly too tempting for them, hence their successful attempt to move up to the first pick.

Jared Goff has impressed in his college career at Cal-Berkeley. Has he done enough however to be selected by the Rams first overall next week? Photo copyright USA Today Sports

They are investing a lot in the player they select however. The Rams swapped first round pick this year, along with two second round picks and a third rounder this year. On top of this huge ransom they gave up their first and third round picks next year. These are a lot of top picks for the Rams to give up, with their only return being a fourth and sixth round pick this year.

After giving up this much to move up, the Rams have immediately put a lot of pressure on the player they select. Their move to Los Angeles has put the Rams in a position of high levels of media scrutiny. L.A is a lot more magnified area in terms of media than St Louis, and this will only be amplified by the blockbuster trade.

It’s difficult enough at the best of times for a rookie quarterback to adjust to the huge step up that is the NFL. For Goff and Wentz they have already received a small dose of this thanks to the intense media attention of both in the pre-draft process. Both have been analysed and scrutinised on seemingly everything they do and dissected like few players in other sports ever are.

Some have suggested there is not a single elite quarterback in this year’s draft, but that should not be a huge concern for the Rams. With Keenum and Foles the Rams currently have two average quarterbacks on their roster. All Goff or Wentz have to prove is that they are a significant step up from these two for the trade to make sense.

 Carson Wentz has excelled at North Dakota State. Despite the fact he’s coming from a small school he has scouts drooling on his NFL potential. Photo copyright Mike Stone/Associated Press.

Both have the potential to be very good quarterbacks in the NFL, with all the techniques and skill set’s to succeed for a long time in the pro’s. Whilst the amount given up is a lot to give up and will draw inevitable comparison to the 2012 trade the Washington Redskins made to select Robert Griffin the third. Whilst this move was a mistake all teams should certainly learn from, this is something the Rams will hope won’t be repeated when they select first overall next week.

It’s likely neither player will be immediately thrust into the starting role. The Rams will likely build them up and let them develop during the season. This may well end up changing the dynamic of who the Rams select. It’s believed amongst NFL draft experts that Wentz has the slightly better long term potential, but that Goff is the better short term option.

After moving to such an important and vibrant city in Los Angeles, will be Rams want some instant bang for their buck with the selection or take the player with a better potential future? This is a question that will keep everyone associated with the Rams on edge right up until the moment they are on the clock next Thursday evening. So just who will the Los Angeles Rams select? Read my mock draft coming up in the next week to find out who I think they will select.

Any thoughts on this trade or who the Rams will select? Please feel free to comment and let me know. And finally, of course thank you for reading. Find me on Twitter @brfcjordan95.