The Detroit Lions have not hesitated to express their desire to reach an agreement with quarterback Jared Goff on a contract extension. General manager Brad Holmes said Thursday that Goff “earned it.”
“It’s a high priority for us and both sides are working very, very hard,” Holmes said. says 97.1 The Bill THURSDAY. “These things take time, you know.”
Holmes said the Lions have been working on a new deal for Goff for some time. Detroit recently signed two other key pieces of its offense, tackle Penei Sewell and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, to big, multi-year extensions this offseason.
“In a perfect world, all three of us would have gone bang, bang, bang, you know, but these things just take a while, especially with the quarterback market,” Holmes said. “But I have confidence that it will happen.”
Coach Dan Campbell called Goff’s extension a priority during owners’ meetings in March.
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Last season, Goff helped the Lions win a division title for the first time in 30 years and two playoff games during one of the best seasons of his career. He finished second in the NFL in passing yards (4,575) and fourth in touchdown passes (30).
Since joining the Lions as part of the trade that sent quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, Goff has thrown for the fourth most yards (12,258) and the seventh most most touchdowns (78) of any NFL quarterback during that span. stretchable.
Holmes’ comments are not surprising
With Detroit and Goff, it’s always been a question of when, not if. Additionally, the question of “how long” will be as important as the price tag attached to it.
Detroit’s offseason was busy before it even started. The Lions entered 2024 intending to do something with two stars on rookie contracts: St. Brown and Sewell. Both of these players signed extensions with the team before the NFL Draft. The Lions also entered 2024, even before their playoff run, with the intention of extending Goff. So it’s not surprising to hear Holmes say that signing Goff is a priority or that both sides are “working really, really hard” to get something done. It’s also not necessarily a surprise to hear him say he’s confident a deal will be reached.
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At the same time, Goff’s contract is much more complicated than what Detroit was dealing with when it came to St. Brown and Sewell – two guys under 23 years old. Goff, who turns 30 in mid-October, had three great years in Detroit and “earned” a new contract according to Holmes. How big the new deal will be – and for how long – will be the ultimate question.
Goff’s next contract is expected to flirt with $50 million per year – a figure currently reserved for Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. Additionally, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa and Dak Prescott could all be considering new extensions.
The market will dictate the terms of Goff’s next deal. Holmes was clear about this. However, how long Detroit waits before doing something will be an interesting question. The Lions drafted former Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker in the third round last season. And even though the 26-year-old sat out last year recovering from a college knee injury, he should be ready for camp this year. Detroit’s future plans clearly revolve around Goff as a starter. It’s just a matter of how long that window will last. — Nick Baumgardner, Senior Editor
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(Photo: Grégory Shamus / Getty Images)