The Detroit Lions have signed their quarterback Jared Goff to a contract extension. The deal is for four years, and worth $212 million. With this extension comes $170 million guaranteed. This contract will make Goff the highest-paid Lion in franchise history.
This contract makes Goff the second highest-paid quarterback in the NFL based on AAV. This is a steep price, but as quarterback-needy teams will tell you, it’s worth it. Due to the scarcity of adequate quarterbacks, teams are at the mercy of the quarterbacks making demands.
Goff is coming off a strong season, leading the Lions to a 12-5 record, and making a run to the NFC Championship game before being ousted by the San Francisco 49ers. The Lions have improved every year with Goff, going from 3 wins to 9, now to 12. While he wasn’t viewed as the franchise quarterback in Los Angeles, he has found his home after being traded to Detroit.
Expectations for the Lions
Coming off a conference championship game appearance, the road to return will be difficult. The team added Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold in the draft, adding much-needed help in the secondary. The team have a strong offensive core with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs surrounding Goff. Aidan Hutchinson is continuing to develop on the defensive side of the ball. This team has a plethora of young talent.
The Lions are not in the strongest of divisions, but there are some solid teams. The Minnesota Vikings are not expected to be good. The Chicago Bears are much improved but are unlikely to be true contenders this year. The Green Bay Packers were a playoff team last year, managing to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the first round.
The Lions have a strong possibility of repeating as division champions. Even if they take a step back due to harder scheduling, there is no reason not to make the playoffs with this team. With solidifying their quarterback position for the next few seasons, the Detroit Lions look to contend with Jared Goff.
