Detroit Lions and quarterback Jared Goff set to agree on extension. What do we know?
Having led the Detroit Lions to their first NFC appearance in more than three decades, Jared Goff’s future with the team is absolutely a priority.
With the Lions on the verge of booking a spot in the Super Bowl - crazy right - much has been made of the man at the center of it all and to be honest, rightly so. On the back of yet another solid season, quarterback Jared Goff has been as dependable as he has been excellent and thankfully that hasn’t gone unnoticed. As things stand, an extension is said to be imminent.
Follow Chiefs - Ravens live online: AFC Championship game today score & stats | NFL Playoffs.
Detroit Lions & Jared Goff set to work on an extension
If you’ve paid any attention to what’s been going on in Detroit, Michigan over the last few days, it wouldn’t take you long to realize that the city is gearing up for what promises to be a huge event on Sunday albeit on the West Coast. With the Detroit Lions facing the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, Detroit’s faithful have been preparing for their first NFC title game in three decades and regardless of what sport they follow, they’ve made it clear that they are behind the team and its quarterback Jared Goff. Indeed, just recently fans at a Wings game began to chant the 29-year-old’s name.
This of course has naturally led to the question of what comes next for Goff. While it’s true that Sunday’s game is still to be played, many have begun to wonder whether Goff will be continuing with the team when the curtain comes down on this campaign. According to sources, the Lions and their fans have no reason to worry as it appears both Goff and the franchise want to see an extension in place, such that one will be handled this coming offseason. “[The Lions] are completely sure he wants to be there,” one source said.
Some things to consider when it comes to Jared Goff’s situation
As much as you may be tempted to think that salary may be an obstacle, sources indicate that won’t be the case at all. Yes, the quarterback market has indeed seen some significant change this past season, with the Bengals’ Joe Burrow negotiating a $55 million per year average salary - the most in NFL history - and the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott still to come, but two factors in play make Goff’s situation somewhat different. Firstly, there is his age. At 29 years old, the former No. 1 pick is a veteran of sorts, and then there’s the fact that he signed a four-year, $134 million contract just before the start of the 2019 season with the Los Angeles Rams.
As you may recall, during 2020 the Rams reneged on that deal and offloaded Goff to the Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford and a clutch of picks. What followed was a Rams Super Bowl win the following season, while Goff began to establish himself as the go-to guy in Detroit. Now, we do know that Goff wanted an extension last season, but the franchise opted against taking the plunge so soon, something one can understand when considering the fact that Goff has two years left on his deal. To that end, we now face a situation where it could be that the Lions seek to hammer this out before the league year begins on March 13th, but don’t be surprised if they let it sit a while given that both sides want to see a deal done, even if it costs them more money after this year’s run.
Detroit has roster choices to make besides Jared Goff
That they do, for starters, the franchise will have to address the situation surrounding the team’s offensive coordinator well before they take a look at players. With Ben Johnson widely expected to get the head coaching job with the Washington Commanders, the consensus is that the Lions could turn to an internal candidate to replace him, such as assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery or passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Still, it could be that we see Detroit opt for an external candidate, of which there will be many this coming offseason.
From wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to right tackle Penei Sewell and defensive tackle Alim McNeill, all of them are up for extensions this coming offseason. Where St. Brown and Sewell specifically are concerned, they are both coming off first-team All-Pro seasons. There is also left tackle Taylor Decker who is entering the final year of a contract that he signed in 2020 and has seen him receive way below what his current market value warrants. Last but not least, there is guard Jonah Jackson, safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and guard Graham Glasgow who will become free agents in March. Understandably, the Lions are in the middle of something major right now, such that one can forgive them for not dealing with player contracts right now. That said, regardless of how this fairytale ends, expect to see that change in the coming weeks.