Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2023, leading the Lions to their first division title in three decades and guiding them to their first playoff win since January 1992.
In spite of Goff’s efforts, many fans and media pundits still do not consider him to be an elite quarterback, but those truly in the know disagree.
NFL coaches, executives and scouts voted in a poll conducted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and had Goff ranked ninth among all signal-callers.
Goff was one spot ahead of Dak Prescott and was right behind Aaron Rodgers.
The 29-year-old threw for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 67.3 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 97.9 last season.
Goff, who played his collegiate football at the University of California, was originally selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.
He spent the first five years of his career with the Rams, making a couple of Pro Bowls and leading the team to a Super Bowl appearance. He was eventually traded to Detroit in a deal that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles in March 2021.
The Lions are legitimate Super Bowl contenders
The Lions made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game last winter before ultimately losing to the San Francisco 49ers.
Detroit even built a 24-7 lead over the 49ers by halftime, but surrendered it in a monumental collapse over the final two quarters.
In spite of the Lions’ choke job, they still boast one of the most talented rosters in the NFL and should absolutely be Super Bowl contenders in 2024.
Thanks to an explosive offense piloted by Goff and an improving defense, Detroit is the favorite to win the NFC North for a second straight time and may very well be the biggest threat to San Francisco in the conference.
The Lions have been busy extending their own players this offseason, signing both wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell to lucrative long-term deals.
They also added some important pieces in free agency—like D.J. Reader and Marcus Davenport—and were widely lauded for their work in the NFL Draft.
We’ll see if Jared Goff can lead Detroit to the promised land this coming season.
