Jared Goff is about get paid huge and he deserves it
There's been one question that I've been hearing all season long and that's "will the Lions extend Jared Goff?" The question has morphed a lot. It's changed into things like "should the Lions still extend Goff?" or "is Goff going to get a lot of money?" We've known the answer to the first version of […]
There's been one question that I've been hearing all season long and that's "will the Lions extend Jared Goff?" The question has morphed a lot. It's changed into things like "should the Lions still extend Goff?" or "is Goff going to get a lot of money?" We've known the answer to the first version of the question for a while. It's yes, Goff will be extended.
We also now know that this extension is probably going to be coming pretty quick. By pretty quick I mean it's likely at the very top of the Lions to do list and Goff's agent Ted Zollner expects it to happen early in the offseason.
Now I think we can answer the other question. Is it going to be for a lot of money? Yeah, it definitely is. I fully expect that Jared Goff and the Lions will come to a deal that's beneficial for both and I fully expect that they will find a way make it work for the cap so the Lions can continue to sign and re-sign players.
I also fully expect Jared Goff to make an insane amount of money this offseason. The man has endeared himself to this team and this city and he just led the Lions to two things that 20 plus quarterbacks, including the guy on the other team last night, couldn't do. You don't get paid a little for that, you get paid a lot.
I know that some might think that drafting Hendon Hooker was the Lions saying that they have a succession plan and that Goff's days are numbered even if he does get extended, that just feels like it's less and less the case every single day. Hooker is going to be a premium backup quarterback for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. If he has a mega preseason, perhaps the Lions might look to see what they can get back for him. As for now, there's just no way that the Lions are moving on from Goff as long as he's healthy.
With all that said, I've pushed off making a contract projection for a long time. Part of it is because I have never really been a big contract guy. The other is because I wanted to let things play out. They've played out enough and this is what I think could happen.
My prediction is that Goff will sign a five-year $280 million deal. That would make Jared Goff the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. I know that will initially shock you. You're probably reading this right now and you can't believe what I just wrote. I get it.
Here's the thing though. This is the direction of this league. Quarterback numbers keep going up every single year and someone keeps jumping to the top. There's always a highest paid quarterback and then a few months later, he's not the top paid guy anymore.
Does Goff deserve that money? I just don't know how you can sit in front of his agent and argue that a guy who was second in passing yards, fourth in touchdowns, voted into the Pro Bowl as an alternate, led your team to their first divsion title and their first playoff win in 30 years while the crowd chanted his name like he was pro wrestler that just turned face at WrestleMania and tell him that his client doesn't deserve to be the highest paid quarterback in the league. It just doesn't work that way.
It really doesn't matter that fans don't like that he's not mobile when it comes time to negotiate. By the way, that clearly doesn't matter because here we are today and Goff's lack of mobility hasn't stopped the Lions from moving on in the playoffs.
I know there will be worries that the team won't be able to sign anyone or do anything else. There's just so many ways around that kind of thing these days. I outlined a lot of those ways a month ago. There's guaranteed money and void years and all kinds of things that a team can do. Plus the NFL is expected to increase the cap to nearly $250 million this offseason. It's only going to keep going up. Let the numbers people handle their numbers. I promise you they will work out a way to make this all work. The Lions have been very good with the cap during this regime.
The Lions have their guy and if you don't remember his name, here's an entire stadium reminding you.
