Lions' 2023 Review: Jared Goff Pilots Historic Season

Goff leads Lions' run to NFC Championship.

When the Detroit Lions acquired quarterback Jared Goff in a trade involving Matthew Stafford, the consensus notion was that he would be a bridge quarterback as the organization underwent a rebuild. 

Three years later, that has proven to not be the case. Goff led the Lions to a NFC North title for the first time in organization history and won two playoff games, including a win over Stafford and his former team. 

Now, the veteran passer has cemented himself as the team's quarterback of the future, and will likely sign an extension this offseason. However, the extension, as well as the lack of an experienced backup on roster, create intrigue at the position heading into 2024. 

Here's a look at where the Lions stand at the quarterback position heading into the offseason.

Reason for hope

Goff's partnership with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been fruitful over the last two seasons. The offense has performed at an elite level, one that can be sustained with Johnson electing to come back for another year at the helm. 

Since the Lions started 1-6 in 2022, Goff has gone 20-7 over his last 27 starts. He has played at a high level, and has showcased the leadership qualities necessary to drive a team to wins in big games. 

Most recently, he played turnover-free during the Lions' run to the NFC Championship Game. His level-headed mentality has been perfect during the team's rise to becoming one of the NFL's best teams. 

Goff has erased the moniker of being a bridge quarterback to the Lions' future, and will likely be rewarded with a hefty extension this offseason. He finished second in passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns this season, proving that his strong finish to the 2022 campaign was no fluke. 

The Lions will bring back plenty of their weapons in 2024, with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta and both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs all still under contract. 

As a result, there is plenty of optimism that the veteran passer will continue to deliver.

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Reason for worry

The Lions are entering the offseason without an experienced backup option, after Teddy Bridgewater announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2023 season. 

Given that Bridgewater has already been named the head coach at Miami Northwestern High School, it's highly unlikely that the popular veteran will be back. Though he didn't play outside of game-ending kneel downs, his presence in the locker room was a stable and respected one. 

Detroit will miss him as it presumably hands the backup job over to Hendon Hooker. The 2023 third-round pick didn't appear in a game this season, but received valuable practice reps when he was reinstated on the active roster late in the year. 

The team has been fortunate to get two consecutive full seasons out of Goff, but this feat is difficult to continuously replicate. As a result, having a trustworthy backup is important. 

What the Lions have in Hooker remains to be seen, as he hasn't played so much as a preseason snap in the NFL. 

Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker watches Jared Goff :: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Biggest question

What will Goff's extension look like? The Lions currently have plenty of salary-cap space, but the market for quarterback extensions is hefty. Given that Goff is coming off an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, it's unlikely that he will get a light extension.

Instead, he could approach becoming one of the highest-paid players in the league, with an extension in the neighborhood of $50 million. Set to be 30 years old during the 2024 season, he could still have plenty of good years ahead of him. 

Will the Lions sign him to a lengthy extension, or will it be a shorter deal with higher average annual value (AAV)? General manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell have been very vocal in their support of Goff, so it could indeed be a four-to-five-year commitment that the organization makes this offseason. 

As a result, the Lions could make a hefty deal with the passer. If so, what will this mean for the rest of the team's supporting cast? Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown are also extension-eligible this offseason, and both will command big paydays. 

Brad Holmes and the rest of the Lions' staff will have to navigate the cap, as they hope to retain their drafted talents from recent years. How they maneuver through this situation, including Goff's extension, will be fascinating. 

Free agents

• QB Teddy Bridgewater (Unrestricted free agent)