As they prepare for a draft in which they could select Jared Goff’s successor, the Lions have secured his backup for 2022.
Detroit has re-signed quarterback Tim Boyle to a one-year, $2 million deal, according to Mike Garafolo.
Boyle came to Detroit last season after backing up Aaron Rodgers for three years in Green Bay. He started three games in place of Goff and threw three touchdowns to six picks with a passer rating of 63.5, his first significant action in the NFL.
At the end of the year, he said he felt like he’d proven he can play at this level.
“One hundred percent, yes," Boyle said. "I can play in this league. I believe that.”
He also said he'd "love to come back to Detroit" after enjoying his first season under Dan Campbell and the rest of the Lions coaching staff.
"I’ve built a lot of special relationships here. I love the area. The fans have been awesome to me. I don’t get paid to make those decisions, but hopefully I put myself in enough of a position to have them consider me back because I’d love to come back," he said.
The Lions remain committed to Goff through 2022, and he’s under contract through 2024. But their decision to bring back Boyle doesn’t necessarily affect their approach to the draft, where they’ve been linked to Liberty QB Malik Willis with the second overall pick.
Willis, along with any other rookie QB, would likely need a year or two of development before taking over under center.
Either way, Boyle likes where things are headed in Detroit.
"It makes me as a competitor definitely want to stick around because I know exactly where this team is going and I think the players who understand where it’s going are licking their chops for an opportunity next year because Coach Campbell will have us dialed in," Boyle said. "He’ll have us ready to go and it’ll be a special run."