As speculation continues to swirl about the Lions' future at quarterback, the team keeps backing its current one: Jared Goff.
"Love Goff. Goff's our guy, man," Dan Campbell told the NFL Network Monday at the league meetings in Phoenix. "I think he's proven over the last two years that, man, he's made for us. He's had to endure a lot, just like all of us have. I thought he played his best football last year, and I think he's gonna come out and play some of the best this year. Feel good about it.
"So I love our quarterback position right now."
Goff, 28, is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in year two with the Lions, ranking seventh in the NFL in passer rating and first in touchdown-to-interception ratio. He's signed through 2024 with cap hits of about $31 million.
The Lions could chase a quarterback with a higher ceiling in the draft or on the trade market, where they've been linked to Lamar Jackson. But they sure sound committed to Goff, whose strong play helped them win eight of their final 10 games last season. They enter 2023 as favorites in the NFC North.
"When you've got a quarterback, you hold onto those guys, man," Campbell said. "If you really believe they can play, then those are your guys. I don't want to get into the money. … I just know this: When you find a guy that you really believe in that can help you win, then I think you do what it takes to make sure that's your guy."
This echoes what GM Brad Holmes said about Goff at the end of last season: "He is the starting quarterback for us." Holmes reiterated as much at the combine earlier this month, while admitting the Lions "don’t have a lot behind him."
"We’ve had these open, transparent conversations about, we’re happy with Jared, he’s our starter, but we need to add some pieces in that room overall," Holmes said. "So whether it’s in free agency or in the draft, we just gotta get somebody to continue to develop."
If they do add a quarterback via the draft, where they hold two first-round picks and five picks in the top 81, just don't expect him to supplant Goff.
Campbell also said Monday that the Lions' expectations in 2023 are to "do whatever it takes to win your division."
"Our expectations should go up," he said. "They should realize, 'Hey, man, we are good enough. We proved what we could do last year, and we're gonna be a better team this year.'
"Now, does that mean you're gonna win 13 games? No, it doesn't necessarily mean that. But all it means is, man, do whatever it takes to win your division. That's where it starts. Are we capable? Yeah, I think we'll be capable."
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