Jared Goff has become the latest Lion to secure a monster extension. Detroit’s franchise quarterback has agreed to terms on a four-year, $212MM pact, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Schefter adds this pact includes $170MM in guaranteed money, an enormous up-front investment on the team’s part. Goff is now the highest-paid player in Lions history. The former Rams No. 1 pick has enjoyed a career resurrection in Detroit, and his tenure there will now continue for the foreseeable future. This contract runs through 2027 with an option for the following season, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
This agreement carries an annual average value of $53MM, which slots Goff into second in the NFL in that regard. Only Joe Burrow‘s Bengals extension is more lucrative in terms of AAV ($55MM). Goff will now join Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts as members of the $50MM-per-year club. Considering his age, that marks a notable development to say the least.
Goff will turn 30 in October, making him an outlier compared to the four aforementioned passers, each of whom signed their mega-pacts as second NFL contracts. This will be Goff’s third pact, as 2024 marks the final season of the four-year, $134MM Rams deal he inked in 2019. Given the eruption in the top of the QB market and the surges the salary cap has experienced since, it comes as little surprise Goff has managed to secure a much larger investment this time around.
The turning point of his career, of course, is the blockbuster trade which sent him from Los Angeles to Detroit. The Rams paid a massive price to offload Goff’s pact and take on Matthew Stafford in return. The latter has since helped the team win a Super Bowl, but Goff has delivered strong showings of his own during his three years in the Motor City.
The Cal product posted a 29:7 touchdown-to-interception in 2022, earning a Pro Bowl nod along the way. While the Lions fell short of a playoff berth that season, Goff did enough to put himself on the extension radar. Over the course of this past season, he racked up 30 touchdowns and 4,575 yards (although his INT total rose to 12 and he lost four fumbles). With Detroit winning the NFC North and reaching the conference title game, Goff was one of several extension priorities on the offensive side of the ball.
Wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell both agreed to monster deals of their own recently. The former (briefly) took the top spot in terms of AAV amongst receivers on a deal averaging just over $30MM per season. The latter, meanwhile, inked the largest deal ever given to a left or right tackle($28MM per year). Given the QB position’s value, a Goff deal of any kind would have checked in at a much higher rate, which helps explain the gap between the St. Brown and Sewell deals being finalized and today’s news.
Lions GM Brad Holmes recently admitted the Goff deal would have ideally been in place earlier, but he echoed his confidence that an agreement would be reached soon. Obviously, that sentiment has proven to be accurate. Detroit drafted Hendon Hooker as a potential successor to Goff last season, but it will take an injury for him to see the field any time soon.
With a well-regarded O-line and a skill-position group which was augmented by rookies Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta last season, expectations will remain high for the Lions on offense moving forward. Goff will remain a key member of the unit for years to come as the team aims to duplicate the success of 2023.
Wow. Lions tying up a loooooot of money in a couple players.
Just making up for the 60 years when William Clay Ford Sr was the biggest cheapskate in the NFL.
I was far from a William Clay Ford fan, but that statement is not accurate. WCF paid out large contracts. His faults were trusting the wrong people to run his organization, i.e., Millen, Fontes, Russ Thomas, Chuck Schmidt, etc. He was loyal and wanted it to work, but he was loyal to the wrong people.
No player ever broke the bank in Detroit while WCF was in charge. A team doesn’t remain non competitive for half a century if large contracts are being paid out to players.
Huh? Lions have never been far below the cap in my life.
Wild that he’s still just 29. Lions doing great job locking up the future and riding rookie contracts the rest of the way.
I’m sure a lot of people will pan this as an overpay for a middling QB who will more than likely regress at some point. And those criticisms could certainly come back to bite the Lions at some point during the lifespan of the Goff extension.
But you have to give Brad Holmes and Co. credit for choosing stability at the QB position rather than chasing the more appealing upside of a potential QB prospect in the draft. Drafting a young QB has become an increasingly risky strategy for success — there were quite a few Lions fans clamoring for the team to draft Pickett, Willis, or Levis over the past 2 seasons. But choosing to stay loyal to whom many viewed as a “bridge quarterback” has brought an unparalleled level of hope for a franchise in desperate need of it. It’s a major testament to the new culture that Dan Campbell and the entire Detroit FO has established. Good on them for rewarding Goff for his role in making the Lions a Super Bowl contender right now.
They had their best season in what feels like forever. Do I think Goff is worth that? No, but you also couldn’t let him walk. It’ll be interesting to see what Goff we get after this. He doesn’t have the best track record of stability.
I’m in the opposite camp. I don’t see a middling QB on a regression path. I see a QB with tools gaining more and more poise especially with pocket awareness. Not a Lions fan but I can see this cat getting them to the promised land. IMO, this is a wise move by their FO.
He’s a solid pocket passer, but boy, that’s a LOT to pay a guy with very limited mobility.
I think it goes both ways? If he was mobile like Murray/Fields/etc then the narrative would be “he runs too much for that price”. Goff also has good pocket awareness and is starting to realize that a quick release kills any effective pass rush.
I don’t think the Lions have had a mobile QB since maybe Peete or Charlie Batch. Mitchell, Kramer, Krieg, Harrington, Orlovsky, Stafford, Goff… none of them were/are mobile.
More playoff wins than Cousins.
A lot of QB’s have more Playoff wins then Cousins lol.
Goff has 5 playoff wins.
Burrow 5 playoff wins.
Josh Allen 5 wins.
Stafford 4 wins.
Dak has 2 wins. Lamar 2 wins. Jalen 2 wins. Baker 2 wins.
Cousins has 1 win. Deshaun Watson 1 win. Danny Dimes 1 win.
Herbert has 0 wins in the playoffs. Kyler Murray 0.
Happy for Goff and his Lions.
(please let me know if I made any mistakes, thanks.)
Sounds right to me. And all but Lamar & Burrow, if ever healthy for a full season, is well out of the top 15 range for QB’s. And these jokers are clearing $40-50m a season now. It’s a real problem for the league.
That’s not saying much
What does this mean for Dak ???
U would think he would make around the same or just under Goff???
Everyone but Dallas fans hope to see Jerry pay Dak $60M a year.
It’s only a 4 year contract taking it to only age 33 or 34. To me it is a solid deal that both sides have wanted to happen for a while. The Stafford/Goff trade is one of those rare win/win transactions.
waste of money on an average qb….
Decent commit by Detroit – apparently it takes ‘just the right’ coach to transform a player.
Not a NFC fan though glad to see the Lions team rise to a competitive respectability level.
The tell will be when the guarantees kick in exclusive of the signing bonus. If you look at the Cousins deal, the Falcons can exit after 2-years, have a crappy cap with a ton of dead cap space, then move on. If the Cowboys and Jets don’t do something with their QBs, they will have a ton of dead cap hit in 2025.
Agree, though teams, the league and NFLPA put themselves in this environment.
No sympathy here.
I like Goff, but this is a HUGE overpay and likely a mistake that will cost the Lions in the long run. Fortunately it’s only 4 years, but still….
Wrong as usual, Mr. Black Clouds.
Assdribble…makes sense.
A name like that just screams “credibility”.
Oh, okay blue meanie. Get of mom’s basement and get some air.
I agree 100%. I’ve never been a huge Goff fan, but is serviceable for the time being. Plus, I read something about the contract where the Lions will have a little more wiggle room regarding his status after two years.
They have surrounded him with winning weapons. He just needs to make the right plays and the coach needs to not be so damn stubborn constantly going for it.
I’ll never be convinced Goff is worth that kind of money. He’s an average QB having his numbers propped up and padded by a top OC, a top O-line and good weapons to throw to.
Propped up? Your nuts. They have what every team in the NFL aspires to have. QB’s in this league can never make anyone happy. Crappy line and no weapons, but it’s always the QB’s fault. Talented line and weapons, and QB is propped up. What the F do you want? Last time I looked, the NFL is 11 on 11 and no one man can do it alone. They are one of the most complete teams in the NFL with a heady QB. Teams are forever on the hunt for their guy and go years blowing picks and signing guys who can’t get it done. They have one and you want to let him walk for an unproven rookie. GTFOH.
Did I say I want to let him go? No. I said he’s not worth $53 million. Reading comprehension is hard when you’re busy trolling. Good to see you can handle a difference of opinion like an adult.
Whatever… the old “reading comprehension” and “trolling” bits. Come up with something new. I disagreed with your “propped up” comment. Anyone who has an opposing opinion automatically cannot read and is a troll. A lazy assumption lacking originality.
I will take a “propped up” QB every time because that means you have a good offense. Plus, Goff, a very respected and highly regarded team leader, is more accomplished than guys who were making more, so the market dictates that’s what you pay. Otherwise, you end up quarterback hell, constantly maneuvering to get your guy.
And yes, before you jump all over me… same guy. I have two phones. One for work and a personal cell.
Well, I mean, if the shoes fits… You’ve trolled 3 different people because you simply disagreed with them and then put words in my mouth. Now you’re on another drivel-filled rant because you got butthurt. You bring absolutely nothing to the table but acting like a petulant child.
Loser mentality. Congrats, Mr. Defensive.
I rest my case. You’ve insulted 3 people because you don’t know how to handle a difference of opinion. You even told one guy he was a “waste of skin”. You’re the kind of guy to constantly insult people until you get called out for your BS and then act like others are being sensitive. It’s like you’d rather be insulted than ignored.
PS: Anyone know why the mute button doesn’t work on the phone app? I’d like to utilize it.
Wow large contract for someone who hasn’t done anything yet to earn it. Jerry did you see this? What are your plans with Dak who continues to underperform when it counts too.
Goff is a good QB and great for that team. But was anyone going to pay him that on the open market? I don’t see it.
Falcons
I think there is easily 12 teams that would be better off with Goff over their current QB situation (not counting the Lions).
AFC Teams
Browns
Steelers
Patriots
Raiders
Broncos
Titans
NFC Teams
Seahawks
Giants
Commanders
Vikings
Saints
Panthers
Wow and that is what’s wrong with football
Goff has been to a Super Bowl and a conference champ game, that’s nothing? He’s done more than Herbert or Josh Allen in the post season.
You guys must not understand how the QB market works. Goff signed a 33M extension 4 years ago and was the 16th highest paid QB last year out of the 19 starters not on rookie contracts. In 3 years he will be underpaid like Mahomes is now. If Cousins can get 45M, Goff was going to get 50M.
This is just the going rate for top half QBs these days. Not an overpay, just how the market is.
The Goff / Stafford parallel universe is a trip.
It’s a great gig if you can get it!
Goff nearly helped put the lions into the big dance….failed because an ‘eligible lineman’ didn’t carry a neon sign with the words – “I’m declaring as an eligible lineman” and handing it to every official.