Dallas Cowboys select Ohio State running back with 4th overall pick in NFL Draft

Jared Goff is moving down the West Coast to Los Angeles. Carson Wentz and his big right arm are moving from North Dakota to Philadelphia.

It’s all about the quarterbacks at the top of the NFL draft.

Goff went No. 1 overall to the Rams on Thursday night for their first pick since they moved to Los Angeles in the offseason, and Wentz was the No. 2 selection by the Eagles after a successful career at North Dakota State in the second tier of college football.

There was little doubt about the position of the top picks after Los Angeles and Philadelphia each made a big trade to get into the draft’s top two slots. It’s the second straight year two QBs were the first names off the board and the seventh time in the modern era of the draft since 1967.

After the QBs got their hats and exchanged pleasantries with Commissioner Roger Goodell, a pair of Ohio State stars made the stroll to the podium. San Diego grabbed defensive end Joey Bosa at No. 3 with the first real wild card of the night, and Dallas selected running back Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth pick.

Elliott, who rushed for 1,878 yards last season, made quite a fashion statement when he showed off his midsection while walking the red carpet before the draft. But his dress shirt under his blue suit was in place by the time he was drafted by the Cowboys.

It’s the highest Dallas has drafted a running back since taking Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett second overall in 1977. All-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith went 17th to the Cowboys in 1990.

Running back wasn’t the biggest need going into the draft with Darren McFadden coming off a strong season and the Cowboys adding two-time Pro Bowler Alfred Morris from Washington in free agency. But the Cowboys will get to put the top-rated running back in the draft behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. Dallas took blockers in the first round three times in a span of four seasons starting in 2011.

Elliott was one of the stars when the Buckeyes won the national championship at the home of the Cowboys during the 2014 season, He rushed for an Ohio State bowl-record 246 yards with four touchdowns in a 42-20 victory over Oregon.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Elliott was the No. 2 all-time rusher at Ohio State with 3,961 yards, trailing only two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. That included a school-record 3,699 yards over two seasons in 2014 and 2015. He declared for the draft after his junior season.

Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey went No. 5 to Jacksonville, and Baltimore selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley with the sixth pick.

The 6-foot-4 Goff started every game during his three seasons at California and set school records with 977 completions, 12,220 yards passing and 96 touchdown passes. The Rams traded with Tennessee to get the pick.

Tupac’s “California Love” took over the speakers at the downtown Chicago theater when Goff went No. 1.

“It’s a good spot for me and for my family to come watch games,” Goff said. “Very excited to get down there and get to work.”

Wentz led the Bison to their fifth consecutive FCS championship in January. He passed for 1,651 yards and 17 touchdowns during his senior year that was shortened by a broken right wrist.

Philadelphia acquired the No. 2 selection in a trade with Cleveland last Wednesday. It’s the first opening-round quarterback for the Eagles since they grabbed Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 pick in the 1999 draft.

The San Francisco 49ers selected Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner with the No. 7 pick in the NFL draft.

He’s a familiar face to help usher in the Chip Kelly era as new Niners coach after Buckner was recruited to Oregon by former Ducks coach Kelly. Buckner is an ideal fit as an end in San Francisco’s 4-3 defensive scheme. He had 10 1/2 sacks last season and was also credited with 16 quarterback hits and 39 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. He is also a strong defender against the run.

San Francisco, which missed the playoffs for a second straight year, needed help in the pass rush after ranking 29th in the league with just 28 sacks after the retirement of defensive end Justin Smith last year and the release of troubled edge rusher Aldon Smith.