Lions QB Jared Goff is under contract through 2024, but the team remains interested in a long-term arrangement. Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link), the Lions and Goff are expected to come together this offseason to discuss an extension that will make Goff one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.
Goff was selected by the Rams with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft, and he struggled in his rookie season under then-HC Jeff Fisher. Of course, Sean McVay‘s hiring in 2017 proved to be one of the best decisions in team history, and for a time, McVay and Goff enjoyed a productive partnership.
Over the 2017-18 campaigns, Goff posted a 24-7 record while throwing for 60 touchdowns against just 19 interceptions. He earned Pro Bowl acclaim in both of those years and guided the the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance at the end of the 2018 season, which prompted Los Angeles to hand him a four-year, $134MM extension a few months later.
Unfortunately, Goff regressed over the next two seasons, and after the Rams were bounced from the playoffs at the conclusion of the 2020 season, McVay was notably non-committal on Goff’s future with the club. Shortly thereafter, the Rams traded Goff to the Lions in a blockbuster deal that brought Matthew Stafford to LA and sent significant draft capital to the rebuilding Detroit outfit.
At the time of the trade, Goff’s contract looked like something of an albatross, and many believed that Lions GM Brad Holmes agreed to assume the deal merely to squeeze an extra first-round draft choice out of the Rams. But subsequent reports made it clear that Holmes — who had just joined Detroit after spending the previous eight years in the Rams’ front office — truly believed that Goff could recapture his Pro Bowl form and was not viewed as a mere bridge option.
It appears that Holmes’ assessment was correct, as Goff posted solid numbers on an otherwise poor Lions club in 2021 and has taken his game to a higher level as the talent around him has improved. Over the past two seasons, Goff has guided the team to top-five finishes in both points per game and total offense, and two weeks ago, Detroit won its first playoff game since 1991. Of course, the Lions also won last week’s divisonal round tilt with the Bucs and are one victory away from the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
In 2023, we heard rumblings that the Lions were targeting a Goff extension, though that was before the team experienced playoff success with him under center. Now, it appears there will be more urgency to that dialogue.
Sources tell Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports that there is a little doubt a deal will get done in the coming months, though Jones believes the average annual value on Goff’s next contract will be “somwhere in the 40s.” There are now 12 quarterbacks with AAVs of at least $40MM, so while Jones indicates that Goff is not overly concerned with his ranking in the QB contract hierarchy, Rapoport’s report — to say nothing of Goff’s leverage and his importance to a formerly moribund franchise — suggest that the number could check in closer to $50MM.
Have to wonder what the organization will decide to do should he sh*t the bed tonight (he will). SF is gonna confuse the hell outta Goff with disguised coverages once they’ve got the run clogged up. Once that first Goff INT is in the books, the rout will be on just like it was when we were annihilated by BAL earlier this season.
Goff’s body of work in Detroit is deep enough, the chances of striking gold on a high round QB pick low enough that there is no way that over one game Detroit is going to give up on Goff. Sean McVay is a prevaricating little fellow of dubious character as quick to rip up a contract as he is to sign it. Dan Campbell is a straight dealer – if he had his doubt about Goff, he’d have spoken out clearly.
Well that would absolutely scream SOL – to say eh, good enough getting to the NFC championship game… “it was an honor just being nominated,” & “always the bridesmaid, never the bride.”
That said, I spoke nothing of an idea over Detroit “giving up on Goff over one game” – I merely am wondering what the organization will decide about his long-term status with the team after SF throttles him tonight. He’s under contract for a year (seems most non-Lions fans are unaware of this and think he’s a FA/eligible to franchise), so they can bide their time on this decision.
And all that said, he could make it super easy on everyone involved by performing a miracle tonight, and pulling out the victory, getting to the SB, and then getting thrown into the Baltimore wood-chipper.
You do know he’s a former 1st overall pick right? He has enough talent where he’ll have a slightly better game than Jlove did. Plus he’s way way more talented than purdy. The lions D needs to step it up in a major way if they want to win this game
I forgot, he can turn in the “don’t you know who I am? I’m a former #1 overall pick” card, good to redeem for one free NFC championship game victory. Goff can’t carry Purdy’s jock, cope harder. Former #1 overall pick will have a “slightly better game” than Love did in the rain? Wow, high praise! “Lions D needs to step it up in a major way to win” – against the “way less talented Purdy?” You’re a contradiction machine.
You haven’t watched enough games of Goff and it shows. He’s not going to mess with the deep corners and safeties. He’ll play it safe throwing it 5-10 yards and let St. Brown and LaPorta have their fun. I’m expecting a couple trick plays tonight maybe going deep to Jameson Williams. San Francisco is beatable. If Hutchinson gets in Purdy’s face and make him uncomfortable he’ll make some mistakes.
#oldtakesexposed
What is your Monday morning assessment on Goff now? I didn’t sh*t the bed. Wasn’t great either.
Man these contracts are getting out of hand….$40M for some of these QBs is ridiculous and doesn’t allow for long term team building or success.
The Patrick Mahomes’ of the world are certainly worth it, but look at how devoid of talent his offense is because they cannot afford to pay for another quality weapon. Because he is great, he has gotten them this far, albeit thanks to a really good defense.
At some point, every position and star is going to have to decide, do I want to be on a team that can contend year in and year out because we can afford to keep our top tier talent or do I want to be the highest paid player.
I would agree with you that the current game model isn’t sustainable but to place the blame on the players is just wrong. They didn’t make the rule changes that restricted defensive play and bring about a passer-centric approach. If the market values are escalating out of control it’s up to the owners to take action and adjust the model but they always prefer the public to think the players are the villains.
I didn’t say they were villains. I was simply saying these $40-50 million a year contracts are not sustainable as far as building a team long term.
The owners definitely have to try to change the market, but if they do the union will cry foul and collusion.
For the players part, maybe not everyone has to be the new “highest paid” every time a contract negotiation is taking place. I don’t blame them for getting the money, nothing wrong with that at all. I was thinking big picture perspective and wanting a team that has an opportunity to win consistently and maybe being paid a little less to make that happen makes more sense.
Thus the reason RB’s are throwing tantrums over their contracts. Not enough money to go around
‘The owners definitely have to try to change the market, but if they do the union will cry foul and collusion.’
Exactly right. T Lawrence is next up for a mega deal. If he takes ‘only’ top 15 money, the union will flip their lids. Young, hot shot, face of the franchise, with 2 out of 3 winning seasons; has to be paid top 5 money.
Hendon gonna have to wait similar to Jordan love then lmao
Good for Goff. Couple field goals instead of turn over on downs and it’s DET probably going to the Super Bowl.
Since coming to Detroit Goffs done nothing but lead a resurgent lions team.
Going into the off season they could use some more seconds pieces and some more coverage line backers but Detroit hung in there till the end.
Detroit remembered they were still the Lions in the 3rd quarter. Multiple dropped passes, perfectly fine throws from Goff. Fumble from the RB. Drop int that hit the guy in the facemark.
Dan should have kicked the FG, but hold the players accountable as well. They were sloppy in the 2nd half.
This comment is after the game is over… Goff is too slow. You can’t win the Super Bowl today without a mobile QB… Even Dan Marino can’t take you there. The Lions do have Hendron Hooker and they can mix him in the lineup the way the Saints use Taysom Hill.. Hendron 2000 rushing yards in college 25 rushing TD and 80 passing.. DO NOT pay Goff like he is a franchise QB. He is not mainly because he can not run.
Mahomes’ 40 time is .02 seconds faster than Goff. He has won many super bowls. He is not a mobile QB. He can move, but he is not a threat to do so like Lamar, Hurts, and the guys most would label as ‘mobile’.
We’re yet to see a ‘mobile’ QB even win a SB… Mahomes, Stafford, Brady, Foles, Manning. The last 5 (different) QB’s to win the SB… Not a single one of those guys are ‘mobile QBs’…
My God Goff is a sitting duck back there. yards rushing this year. Goff 21…yes 21… Mahomes 389…. look Goff is a very good QB and the Lions do need another WR and he does have an excellent arm… I am just saying that is his limit and Lions can use Hendron Hooker in situations where a running QB option is needed like fourth and 2… sort of like the way the Saints use Taysom Hill.
Like I said, Mahomes can move but no one really considers him a ‘running QB’… You said that you can’t win a SB without a mobile QB, yet in the last 20 years there hasn’t been a single mobile QB to win the SB. You claim Goff isn’t franchise material because ‘he can’t run’. From 2001-2010 Brett Favre never had even 100 rushing yards.. Was he not franchise material? A running QB is never ‘needed’. Is it a nice trait to have? Absolutely is. But it’s not even close to a deciding factor of a SB champ. Ask Hurts how running helped him win…
The last ‘running QB’ I can think of would be Steve Young. He retired in the 1990’s.
But you can go to the conference championship game and come thisclose to going to the SB with a “slow” QB?
Goff cannot throw well on the run. That means pass pro has to be perfect. It is really that simple. To be able to scramble out of the rush and gain positive yards is critical today. The Lions ensure their mediocrity with a Goff extension when they have the right guy for the future in their QB room who can do what is necessary.
Not sure it will matter for them anyway with the phrase of “gambling on analytics” being replaced by simply “Campbelling”.
This is an incredible take. Goff just led them to the NFC championship game. That is not mediocre in the slightest. They have the right guy for the future in their QB room? Really?? How can you possibly say that about Hooker? He is a 25 y/o rookie coming off a season ending injury who ran an incredibly simple offense in college. If you think Hooker is an upgrade over Goff then I don’t know what to tell you.
Thin line between Dan Campbell and Brandon Staley…
Dan’s teams got better each year, not Brandon’s.
Referring to constantly going for it on 4th down.
Here’s a novel idea,see if Goff would be a team player and try to work a contract out so WE AS A TEAM,can try and sign some defensive help,and take a little less to HELP US OUT!!! I THINK YOU NEED TO PAY THAT OFFENSIVE LINE MORE AND GET SOME DEPTH AND ASK THE PLAYERS what THEY THINK IS A GOOD MOVE FOR THE TEAM TO STAY AT THE SAME LEVEL OR BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD THIS PAST YEAR!!