History shows a fast start is not very likely

The Los Angeles Rams announced on Tuesday that rookie quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, will make his first career start Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. As with any No. 1 pick, Goff will be facing high expectations, but Rams fans may be setting the bar even higher for the former Cal standout, considering that LA traded two first-round picks, two second-round picks and two-third round picks to move up to No. 1 in the first place.

Unfortunately for Goff, his job won’t be easy, particularly considering the talent on the surging Dolphins’ imposing front line. And that’s to say nothing of Goff’s preseason struggles or the fact that Rams coach Jeff Fisher didn’t feel Goff was ready to play earlier in the year, even as Case Keenum put up some of the worst quarterback numbers in the NFL over the first nine games.

In any case, Sunday’s result shouldn’t be one that makes or breaks Goff’s career, and many top picks have struggled in their earliest days on the field. Don’t believe it? Well, we took a look at the debut starts of each of the 21 quarterbacks taken with the No. 1 overall pick since the AFL-NFL merger -- and as the record will show, they rarely go well: