Evaluating What Jared Goff Could Earn Next Contract

What could Goff's next contract look like?

The Detroit Lions are facing a big decision regarding their future at the quarterback position. 

Jared Goff's contract expires after the 2024 season, meaning the Lions will have to decide whether to bring back the veteran signal-caller. 

The passer has enjoyed a career renaissance since coming to Detroit in 2021. After struggling in his first season, he has put together a solid last two seasons. The Lions have maintained their belief in Goff, with Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell praising the passer for his development since coming to Motown. 

Following a Week 10 win, Spotrac evaluated what a potential Goff extension would look like for the Lions. 

The current market for quarterback contracts is hefty, with Joe Burrow recently signing a deal that pays him $55 million annually. 

Evaluating Goff's career, he has played some of his best football over the last 20 games, spanning to the second half of last season. 

"After a lackluster 2021 campaign in Detroit (91.5 rating), Goff has now put together back to back seasons that prove he’s worth the price of admission. At the time of this piece, PFF has him rated #3 among all QBs, while his 99.1 QBR currently ranks 9th," wrote Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti. "Contractually speaking, Goff’s numbers (and career arch) line up best with Kirk Cousins, who will also be in the market for a new contract in the coming months. What does this mean financially? If the top of the QB market is seeking $50M+, Cousins and Goff are most likely mathematically falling into the $40M per year range."

His current contract was signed with the Rams in 2019, paying him $33.5 million per year. As Ginnitti pointed out in his article, that mark represented 17.8 percent of the salary cap that season. 

With the increase in cap, that 17.8 percent mark represents almost $40 million in 2023. Ginnitti explained the potential impact that rises in cap would have on the quarterback's negotiations. 

"If Detroit were to sign him to a contract extension right now (not a horrible idea by the way), 17.8% of the current cap calculates to almost exactly $40M per year," Ginnitti wrote. "Should the cap rise to $245M next March, his assumed price could rise to almost $44M per year. Let’s not overthink this and split the difference." 

Ultimately, Spotrac projects that Goff and the Lions will agree to a five-year deal worth $210 million, with $168 million guaranteed. 

If Goff can take the Lions deep into the playoffs, his average annual value salary could increase from the $42 million projected to as much as $50 million.