While the Detroit Lions‘ 2023 campaign ended with a heartbreaking NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Jared Goff and Co. undoubtedly posted one of the best seasons in franchise history. Two years after going 3-13 in Goff and head coach Dan Campbell’s first season together, the Lions finished 12-5 in the regular season and won their first two playoff games since 1991.
Goff still has one year remaining on his contract, but reports have suggested Detroit wants to extend the 29-year-old this offseason. Should the Lions feel comfortable committing to Goff after their deep postseason run?
Should the Detroit Lions Extend Jared Goff?
It’s hard to argue with Goff’s statistical production, especially over the past two seasons. From 2022 to 2023, he completed 66.2% of his passes for 9,019 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions, ranking ninth in the NFL in EPA per play. Goff finished fifth in QBR last season before dropping to 11th in 2023.
Those results, plus Detroit’s linear improvement, have Lions management ready to give Goff a new contract. Detroit absorbed Goff’s existing contract when they acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 in exchange for fellow quarterback Matthew Stafford, two first-round picks, and a third-rounder.
Goff is due $27.3 million in cash next season; add $5 million of prorated bonus money, and his 2024 cap charge will be $32.3 million. That’s a more than fair price for a QB of Goff’s caliber, but the Lions could reduce his cap number even further by giving him an extension.
That’s something Detroit is interested in doing, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who reported on Sunday that the Lions and Goff are expected to discuss a new deal this offseason. Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones suggested a fresh pact between Goff and Detroit is something of a foregone conclusion.
On its face, extending Goff seems like a no-brainer. He’s revitalized his career with the Lions and, along with Campbell, has become the face of the organization. Goff won’t turn 30 until April 2025 and offers a high floor, finishing with a QBR above 50.0 in six of his eight pro seasons.
Detroit’s path to a quarterback upgrade might also be few and far between. The Lions used a third-round pick on Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker in 2023, but he didn’t play a single snap during his rookie campaign. They’ll hold the 29th selection in this year’s draft, putting them out of QB range.
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At the same time, Goff has typically thrived when conditions around him were nearly perfect. As the Los Angeles Rams quarterback, Goff played in an offense designed by Sean McVay, was supported by All-Pro running back Todd Gurley, and threw to talented pass catchers like Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks, and Robert Woods.
He’s enjoyed a similarly comfortable habitat with the Lions. Ben Johnson became one of the NFL’s best offensive play-callers with Detroit and will likely become a head coach this offseason. The Lions’ offensive line is elite, while Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery give Goff an outstanding set of weapons.
Detroit can’t prevent Johnson from leaving, but it can control the price it pays for Goff’s good — but not great — quarterback play. Ironically, Goff’s next contract might end up matching the deal signed by the QB he was traded for.
The Rams gave Stafford a four-year, $160 million deal in 2022 that included a $60 million signing bonus. A $40 million annual average value would tie Goff with Stafford and Prescott as the 10th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
The Lions will likely give Goff a significant signing bonus, which will be prorated over the life of the deal and make him difficult to remove from the roster for at least two — if not three — years. But as long as Detroit can avoid paying Goff $50+ million per year, it should have the ability to surround him with a gifted supporting cast.
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