Burning Questions: Should Jared Goff Be Highest-Paid QB in NFL?

What will Jared Goff's next contract look like?

Among the biggest priorities this offseason for the Detroit Lions will be a new contract for quarterback Jared Goff. 

The veteran is entering the final year of his current deal, and the Lions will almost assuredly commit to him with a new contract making him the franchise quarterback of the future. 

However, the average annual value of his incoming new deal remains a question. The current market for quarterbacks is hefty, with the Cincinnati Bengals recently resetting the standard by awarding Joe Burrow with a contract worth $55 million annually. 

The Lions are in a unique place when it comes to cap space. They currently have around $58 million to spend this coming offseason. However, long-term commitments made this year could come back to haunt the team in the coming seasons, with a plethora of young stars due for extensions. 

Goff is more than deserving of an extension based on his accomplishments since coming to Detroit, mainly in the last two seasons. Working with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, he has revived his career and has been among the best in the league statistically. 

This season, he ranked second in passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns. He also ranked sixth in Pro Football Focus' passing grade. 

This performance, paired with the fact that he helped the team make history with a division title and two playoff wins, makes him more than worthy of an extension that would put him among the league's highest-paid.

However, he is a touch older than other players who have signed record-setting extensions. Burrow was 26 when he inked his new deal, while Justin Herbert was 25 when he signed a $52.5 million APY deal in July. 

Goff has outperformed Herbert, who has yet to win a playoff game since being drafted in 2018. 

For that reason, I'm expecting the 29-year-old to land slightly above him but below Burrow with a final deal of four years, $212 million that comes to an average annual value of $53 million per year. 

Detroit can dabble in some salary cap gymnastics by converting some of it to signing bonus, which would free up space for the team to dole out new deals for the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell. 

Lions Players Who May Not Return in 2024

Which free agent should be biggest priority to re-sign?

The Lions have emphasized cultural fit when it comes to signing and retaining players ever since Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell took over. This shouldn't change as the organization evaluates who to bring back from this year's team. 

A number of players set to be free agents present interesting cases to return next season. 

Two to watch are safety Ceedy Duce, formerly C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and offensive guard Graham Glasgow. Duce missed most of the season after signing a one-year, prove-it deal of sorts, while Glasgow outperformed expectations. 

Duce's impact on the locker room was clear early, as he provided a swagger and energy that seemed to bring the best out of others in the team's secondary. However, he was unable to provide a comprehensive showcase of his skills as a result of a torn pec suffered in Week 2. 

He's a challenging evaluation. The safety has proven his ability to generate takeaways, a skill that is highly coveted. However, the emergence of Ifeatu Melifonwu along with the development of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch at the nickel spot give the team plenty of options. 

Duce wanted a long-term contract last offseason, so how his free agency process unfolds will be fascinating to follow. 

Glasgow, meanwhile, provided depth that proved to be extremely valuable. After Halapoulivaati Vaitai won the starting job out of camp, he spent the rest of the season dealing with injuries and played in just six games. 

That paved the way for Glasgow to join the starting lineup. He didn't disappoint, becoming one of the Lions' best blockers and playing a crucial role. He would start games at both guard spots as well as at center when Frank Ragnow missed games. 

As a result, I believe that Glasgow will be among the Lions' top priorities in free agency. 

Other interesting options include wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who was a valuable member of the passing game and has resonated with the coaching staff for his work ethic, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. An NFLPA All-Pro selection, Reeves-Maybin will likely be a high priority for his work on special teams. 

Will Lions make kicker change in 2024?

One of the biggest takeaways from Sunday's NFC Championship loss was Dan Campbell's unwillingness to trot out kicker Michael Badgley with the team down three points in the fourth quarter. 

Campbell has routinely elected to trust his offense in similar situations, so his decision to do so in the biggest moments came as little surprise. Yet, there has been inconsistency at the kicker position that generates a lack of confidence in that area.

Badgley has spent the last two seasons with the team, though he didn't take over the role in 2023 until Week 15. That week, he officially beat out Riley Patterson. 

If Badgley is not retained, there are multiple avenues the Lions could explore. Ka'imi Fairbairn and Wil Lutz are among the top options set to be free agents. 

Should the Lions choose to explore drafting a kicker, Alabama's Will Reichard, Stanford's Joshua Karty and Arkansas' Cam Little are rated as the top options.