Carson Wentz, Jared Goff Will Be 2016 NFL Draft's Top Two Picks After Blockbuster Trades

The Philadelphia Eagles are part of the second pre-draft blockbuster trade in the last six days as they’ve acquired the second overall pick in next week’s draft from the Cleveland Browns.

As is every top-five trade, the rights to the pick didn’t come cheap for Philadelphia. Cleveland will receive the Nos. 8, 77 and 100 overall picks in the upcoming draft, as well as Philadelphia’s first-round pick in 2017 and second-round pick in 2018. The Eagles will receive the Browns’ fourth-round pick next year in addition to their 2016 first-rounder.

The Los Angeles Rams acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Tennessee Titans last Thursday. It’s been speculated that the Rams and Eagles both have their eyes on a quarterback, though it’s difficult to know which order the top two prospects will be taken in.

In the recent months, it’s seemed a foregone conclusion that North Dakota State‘s Carson Wentz and Cal‘s Jared Goff would be the first two signal-callers selected in 2016, though maybe not with the first two picks. It’s pretty clear now that they will go first and second overall.

Goff is the safer pick because of his experience and individual success at college football’s FBS level. NFL Network analyst Michael Silver said that when talking to GMs Goff seems to be attracting much more attention than Wentz, which contradicts the majority of mock drafts.

Wentz has attracted a lot of hype, though, and he’s projected by many to be the first off the board. He was part of a Bison dynasty that has won five straight FCS national titles. He has the intangibles that translate to NFL success, though it’s hard to pull the trigger on a guy who’s played lower-level competition.

If the Eagles select a quarterback, it’ll be the third that they’ve signed to a contract this offseason. Sam Bradford is back for two more years and they also signed former Kansas City Chiefs backup Chase Daniel to a three-year deal.

In my eyes, Bradford will be the opening weekend starter for Philadelphia and whomever falls to the Eagles (my guess would be Wentz) will sit behind him for at least a portion of the season. Goff may be a little more NFL-ready, though I wouldn’t expect him to be the opening weekend starter either.