California’s Jared Goff declares for draft, should be first QB taken

Cal junior quarterback Jared Goff is leaving school early and entering the 2016 NFL Draft where he could be the first quarterback taken.

In a move that won’t come as a surprise, California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff is leaving school early and declaring for the NFL Draft. The move was anticipated all season with Goff projected to be a first-round pick.

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After Goff set the Pac-12 single-season record for yards and touchdowns in Cal’s Armed Forces Bowl win earlier this week, it was reported that Goff was going pro. That was confirmed on New Year’s Eve after Goff had a press conference to declare his intentions to enter the draft.

Goff started since his freshman year in 2013 and put up huge numbers every season with the Bears. He threw 3,488 yards and 18 touchdowns to 10 interceptions as a freshman. Those numbers swelled to 3,973 yards with 35 touchdowns to seven interceptions last year as a sophomore and put him in

Those numbers swelled to 3,973 yards with 35 touchdowns to seven interceptions last year as a sophomore and put him in position to break records held by Sean Mannion, Marcus Mariota and Aaron Rodgers as a junior.

Goff broke Mannion’s Pac-12 passing yards record with 4,719, Mariota’s touchdown record with 43 and broke several of Rodgers’ single-season and career records.

He enters the pre-draft process on fire with 467 yards and six touchdowns in the bowl win after throwing for 542 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season finale against Arizona State.

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Goff will compete with Memphis’ Paxton Lynch to be the first quarterback taken in April’s draft and could entice the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers who will be picking early in the draft.