Cowboys could land their very own Aaron Rodgers

By drafting a quarterback early, the Dallas Cowboys could ensure future success just like the Green Bay Packers did following the exodus of Brett Favre for Aaron Rodgers in 2008.

The Dallas Cowboys need to find their quarterback of the future. Although current starter Tony Romo is expected to play for another three to four years, he’s about to turn 36-years old and is coming off a season where he played just four total games due to injury.

Although the Cowboys could certainly wait another year or two to actually draft their future franchise quarterback, they currently posses the fourth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. That high of a selection gives Dallas a rare opportunity to draft and stash a top-tier quarterback talent to groom behind Romo until the veteran decides to retire.

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The draft and stash has a proven track record of success in the NFL, most notably in Green Bay. Although they already had a Hall of Fame-level player under center in Brett Favre (who was also 35-years old at the time), the Packers still elected to catch a falling quarterback out of Cal named Aaron Rodgers with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Rodgers would sit behind Favre for three years before being named the starter in 2008. The Packers would win the Super Bowl just two years later.

It’s that same Favre for Rodgers-type transition one former player and scout believes the Cowboys could replicate if they elect to draft California quarterback Jared Goff with the fourth overall pick in April.

"“You think about what they’ve been able to build around with Tony Romo with a young quarterback. [Goff] can take some time to learn behind Tony Romo,” said analyst Bucky Brooks on the NFL Network recently. “They can build the system around him. I think you could have potentially what Green Bay had when Aaron Rodgers took over for Brett Favre.”"

It’s easy to draw comparisons to Rodgers and Goff as they both attended the same college. But the 6-4, 210 pound quarterback prospect shares many of the same qualities as the league’s top gunslinger as well. Goff can makes all the necessary throws on the next level, displaying great vision and accuracy while under center with the Golden Bears. His biggest question marks are his slight frame and the up-tempo spread offense that he played under at Cal that inflated his numbers.

Still, Goff’s deficiencies haven’t stopped football experts like University of Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford from drawing comparisons to the NFL’s elite.

Bedford said of Goff: "This is Aaron Rodgers. He's the real deal. This young man is exceptional."
— Kirk Bohls (@kbohls) September 16, 2015

Vance Bedford calls Jared Goff "one of best quarterbacks I've ever faced in college football."
— Bob Ballou (@BobBallouSports) September 16, 2015

In three seasons at Cal, Goff recorded 12,195 passing yards for 96 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He had a college career completion percentage of 62.3% and an average passer efficiency rating of 144.0.

For many, Goff is the best quarterback in this draft class. And the recent rise in popularity of North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz could mean the Cal gunslinger, that reminds some of Aaron Rodgers, could still be on the board when the Cowboys number is called fourth overall.

Next: Cowboys 2016 Draft: Weeding out options for the 4th pick

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