Louis Riddick has been in on the Lions since the end of last season. The ESPN analyst and former front office exec said in January that Detroit would be a "real contender for the trophy" in 2023, doubled down on it March and is sticking to his guns in June.
"I believe that Detroit is poised to make a huge, huge leap this year and be a major, major player in the postseason," Riddick said Thursday on ESPN. "And one of the primary reasons is because I believe Jared Goff has found the (right) situation for him now. I think he is going to take another step this year and you’re going to see it manifest itself in them being in the NFC title game."
Riddick's prediction stemmed from a discussion on which NFC North quarterback he'd choose to lead his team in 2023.
"As much as I love Justin Fields and think he’s going to take a jump, the guy who I would still take is Jared Goff because of the kind of synergy he has formed with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson," Riddick said. "When you look at Jared’s season last year, you could subjectively say, ‘I don’t like the guy, (Sean) McVay got rid of him, he’s not a big-game performer,’ whatever.
"If you look at him objectively as far as all the QB metrics, when you slice it apart, he was nailing it in every single critical category. He was top 10 in total QBR, he was second in fourth quarter QBR, top 10 in red zone QBR, third down QBR, QBR in the pocket, QBR outside the pocket. They have got it going on with Jared Goff right now."
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Goff ranked sixth in the NFL in passing yards last season, sixth in yards per attempt and seventh in passer rating (99.3), between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. He didn't throw a pick the final nine games of the season and finished first in touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The Lions enhanced his weaponry in the draft with running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams will only add to it once he returns from his six-game suspension from gambling.
"The passing game (last season) was very efficient, they have a top-two, top-three offensive line in the NFL and he’s got a running game that he can lean on that is explosive as far as the receiving capabilities out of the backfield," said Riddick.
It all points to another big year -- and perhaps big contract -- for Goff and maybe, just maybe, a breakthrough season for the Lions.
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