Jared Goff is quarterback of the Lions now and, he hopes, into the future. As extension talks continue between the two parties, Goff said Tuesday that his first three seasons in Detroit have "been amazing."
"I love it here, and I would love to be here for a long time," Goff said as the Lions kicked off their offseason workouts in Allen Park. "Really special to play in front of these fans. Being able to provide a winning culture in the last year-and-a-half or so, and see them experience that and be a part of that, has been fun. By no means are we satisfied, or happy to be here or any of that. It's about what's next, man."
What's next for Goff could be a contract that pays him upwards of $50 million per year. That's what his camp figures to be seeking with Goff coming off another strong season, which crested in the Lions' first division title in 30 years and a trip to the NFC title game. As it's been written here before, Goff is second in the NFL over the past two seasons in completions and yards, third in touchdowns and fifth in passer rating (98.6) -- directly between Patrick Mahomes (99.1) and Lamar Jackson (97.4).
His current contract, which pays him $33.5 million per year, expires after the upcoming season. That salary ranks 15th among quarterbacks. Considering Baker Mayfield just signed a deal that will pay him the same amount with the Buccaneers, Goff is clearly due a substantial raise. The Lions have plenty of cap space to make it work. Whether they're amenable to $50 million per year isn't so clear.
Goff reiterated Tuesday that his camp has had "discussions" with the Lions, which GM Brad Holmes has alluded to since last season. Both sides would surely like to get something done before the season to avoid the distraction of a lame duck quarterback on a Super Bowl-caliber team. Uncertainty will linger until then. Asked how confident he is that they'll reach an agreement, Goff said, "We hope so, but I'm not in control of that."
"You never know. There are discussions. Brad said what he said to you guys, and I'll say the same thing. There have been discussions, and my agent is on top of it, and I trust those guys," said Goff.
Goff's turnaround in Detroit is hard to overstate. He came here as a castoff in the Matthew Stafford trade, viewed by outsiders as a penalty for better draft compensation for the Lions. He wasn't just kicked to the curb by Sean McVay and the Rams. He was "shipped off and sent to a place to die, essentially, is what a lot of people think it was," Goff said on a recent podcast. "And I was never going to allow that to happen."
Indeed, with the support of Dan Campbell and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Goff has reestablished himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. A talented cast of weapons and an elite offensive line obviously helps. He called the trade to Detroit "the greatest thing that ever happened to me for my career and my development as a human."
"The last three years have been really fun," said Goff. "Not always easy, but fun, and hard. I've been surrounded by a lot of good teammates and coaches who have helped me realize some of my potential, and hopefully there is some more there. I've had a ton of fun winning in this city and for these fans."
Goff, 29, said it's been especially rewarding this offseason to hear from all the people "that have been really heartfelt" about the Lions' recent success.
"Even though we didn't win the Super Bowl, winning the playoff games and making the playoffs, they're saying 'Thank you.' You're just like, 'Whoa, I'm just playing football,'" said Goff. "But people obviously are really passionate here and that's been the most rewarding thing, playing for a fanbase that cares so much and a city that cares so much."
If all goes according to plan, Goff will be playing here for several years to come.