Speaking to reporters Tuesday for the first time since the end of last season as the Lions started offseason workouts in Allen Park, Jared Goff was asked about fellow Pro Bowl quarterback Jalen Hurts getting paid.
"Did he?" Goff said with a smile. "I didn't see it."
Of course he saw it. He couldn't have missed it. Hurts reeled in a five-year, $255 million extension from the Eagles this week, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. Goff, coming off arguably the best season of his career, could be up for an extension with the Lions as soon as this summer.
Have the two sides had any talks?
"No," said Goff.
Would he like an extension?
"Not up to me," said Goff.
Would he be open to an extension?
"Of course you'd be open," said Goff. "It hasn't been brought to my attention, but yeah, of course open to anything. Not up to me. I'm a player, I don't have to make those decisions. And if I did, I would have made that decision a long time ago: give me and all my friends all the money in the world. But I just get to play, and if that comes about, that'd be great. But we'll see."
Goff, 28, is under contract through 2024 with cap hits of about $31 million each of the next two seasons. That's great value for the Lions based on how Goff played last season: seventh in the NFL in passer rating, sandwiched between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen, and first in touchdown-to-interception ratio. By 2024, his cap hit will rank 11th among quarterbacks as salaries at the position continue to soar.
For that reason, it might behoove Goff to seek an extension. And if GM Brad Holmes and the Lions truly believe in Goff as their long-term quarterback, it might behoove them to pay him now rather than risk paying him more later. Goff would never command Hurts-level money, but he can reasonably expect something in the neighborhood of $40 million per year.
Daniel Jones just signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Giants coming off a season in which he threw 15 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 92.5. Jones is also being paid for what he can do with his legs, but Goff is coming off a season in which he threw 29 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 99.3. And he's been a central figure in the Lions' turnaround under Holmes and Dan Campbell.
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Not long ago, Goff had one of the biggest quarterback contracts in the NFL. The four-year, $134 million deal he signed with the Rams in 2019 came with the most guaranteed money of all time in a QB extension ($110 million). That same deal now ranks 10th among quarterbacks in guaranteed money and outside the top 15 players overall in total value.
"That's how the league goes. A guy gets paid, and then 10 more guys get paid, and you're toward the bottom. Hopefully (you sign again), and things go like this," said Goff, raising his hand like a climbing graph. Hopefully I can play for a long time in this league, win games, win championships, and the money and the contract all comes with that.
"But just enjoying your time in the present, enjoying the people around you and your teammates, that's the most important thing. All that will come. And congrats to Jalen."
The other unknown in Goff's offseason is whether or not his backup -- and potential successor -- will arrive via the draft next Thursday. While Holmes and the Lions have no plans to replace Goff in the present, the long-term outlook will change if they draft a quarterback with one of their two first-round picks.
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Holmes has kept Goff in the loop this offseason regarding the Lions' plans behind him. He's been clear he wants to upgrade the room overall and "get somebody to continue to develop," which points toward the draft. The Lions have also re-signed Nate Sudfeld and made a reported offer to veteran free agent Teddy Bridgewater.
"We’ve had good talks, more toward the end of last season or right after the end of last season," said Goff. "Everything has been clear and open. I’ve got all the trust in the world in Brad and Dan and everything they do, and really excited to see what we do and where we go."
Asked if he would welcome more competition in the quarterbacks room, Goff said, "Of course, yeah. It’s not my job to decide what we need on the roster, but if they need to bring somebody in to be there in case something happens to me, of course, that’s their decision.
"I know Nate’s here now and he does a great job. But it’s not up to me and I’ll be good to go with whatever happens."
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