The Los Angeles Rams may have tried to keep the NFL world guessing which of the 2016 NFL Draft's top two quarterbacks they'd select first-overall Thursday night, but ultimately, Rams GM Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher, desperate to build a winner (and excitement) on the first leg of their journey out west, did the expected, tabbing former Cal signal-caller Jared Goff as their first round, first-overall pick and Quarterback of the Future (future, future, future).
The Philadelphia Eagles, who pulled off a pre-draft trade of their own in the weeks leading up to the draft, followed suit, taking lanky NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz.
With the moves, each team and coaching staff has tied their short- and long-term fate to Goff and Wentz. For the Rams, the quick-twitch Goff will need to start immediately (there are reports that the team will consider a Nick Foles or Case Keenum trade in the coming days) in order to justify their vast investment (the No. 15 pick, two second-rounders and a third-round rounder in 2016, along with first- and third-round picks in 2017) in moving up and, in turn, Goff.
For the Eagles, despite Sam Bradford's crybaby routine, Wentz likely won't take the field for at least one season, even if that means a year of an unhappy Bradford (oh, the humanity) or Chase "I Make Lots To Play A Little" Daniel.
See you next spring, Carson!
As for the rest of the 2016 NFL Draft's top-5, the surprises started almost immediately after Wentz came off the board. Let's take a look...
No. 3: San Diego Chargers - Joey Bosa, Ohio State DE
The Chargers were rumored to be considering an offensive lineman like Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil or Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley, but San Diego, one of the biggest question marks in the first round, pulled a fast one on everyone, going with Bosa, the pass rushing maven.
DeForest Buckner was said to be in contention to be selected by the Chargers, as well, but it seems as though Chargers GM Tom Telesco coveted Bosa's motor and technical skill as a pass rusher over Buckner's raw talent.
Bosa is viewed as having a limited ceiling by some, since he showed during pre-draft testing that his athleticism was no "elite," but he enters the league as a starting-caliber pass rusher who should be able to slot into the San Diego lineup alongside Melvin Ingram and Jeremiah Attaochu from Day One.
No. 4: Dallas Cowboys - Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State RB
So much for devaluing the running back position. The Cowboys took Elliott, far and away the top running back in the 2016 NFL Draft, and now finally have their DeMarco Murray replacement.
Elliott is about as well-rounded a prospect as there is in the entire draft process. Able to pass block as well as he makes defenders miss and breaks tackles, Elliott should slot in almost immediately at the head of the Cowboys' running back depth chart.
Jerry Jones' new-look Triplets - Elliott, Dez Bryant and Tony Romo - creates a terrifying proposition for NFC East defenses, assuming Romo stays healthy.
No. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars - Jalen Ramsey, FSU DB
The Jaguars were the recipients of some good fortune on draft night. The Jaguars have long struggled to put together a competitive defense, but it seems as though Gus Bradlely has been able to revamp that side of the ball with one fell swoop this offseason. After adding Prince Amukamura, Malik Jackson and safety Tashaun Gipson - and with last year's first round pick, Dante Fowler Jr., presumably coming back healthy - the Jaguars landed perhaps the best (and healthiest) athlete in the entire 2016 NFL Draft.
Ramsey is a bit of a tweener and some question whether he's better suited for safety or cornerback at the NFL, and whether he brings the want-to on a down-to-down basis for safety, but there's no questioning his ability and how well he'll likely fit in Jacksonville.
Bradley did great work with big corners like Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell in Seattle, and he now has two in Amukamura and Ramsey in Jacksonville.
No. 6: Baltimore Ravens - Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame OT
No. 7: San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, Oregon DL
No. 8: (TRADE) Tennessee Titans from Cleveland Browns - Jack Conklin, Michigan State OT
No. 9: (TRADE) Chicago Bears from Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Leonard Floyd, Georgia LB
No. 10: New York Giants - Eli Apple, Ohio State CB
No. 11: (TRADE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Chicago Bears - Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida CB
No. 12: New Orleans Saints - Sheldon Rankins, Louisville DT
No. 13: Miami Dolphins - Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss OT
No. 14: Oakland Raiders - Karl Joseph, West Virginia S
No. 15: Cleveland Browns - Corey Coleman, Baylor WR
No. 16: Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, Ohio State OT
No. 17: Atlanta Falcons - Keanu Neal, Florida S
No. 18: Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly, Alabama C
No. 19: Buffalo Bills - Shaq Lawson, Clemson DE
No. 20: New York Jets - Darron Lee, Ohio State LB
No. 21: (TRADE) Houston Texans from Washington - Will Fuller, Notre Dame WR
No. 22: (TRADE) Washington From Houston Texans - Josh Doctson, TCU WR
No. 23: Minnesota Vikings - Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss WR
No. 24: Cincinnati Bengals - William Jackson III, Houston CB
No. 25: Pittsburgh Steelers - Artie Burns, Miami CB
No. 26: (TRADE) Denver Broncos from Seattle Seahawks - Paxton Lynch, Memphis QB
No. 27: Green Bay Packers - Kenny Clark, UCLA DT
No. 28: (TRADE) San Francisco from Kansas City Chiefs - Joshua Garnett, Stanford G
No. 29: Arizona Cardinals - Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss DT
No. 30: Carolina Panthers - Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech DT
No. 31: (TRADE) Seattle Seahawks from Denver Broncos - Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M OT
