For years, fans and analysts have pointed to Jared Goff as the Detroit Lions' weakest link. While he's had his fair share of questionable moments, that take is lazy and tiresome, and it shows they don't follow the team every Sunday.
Goff has shown the same traits in the pros that made him the No. 1 pick. Some still think of him as the hesitant young quarterback he was with the Los Angeles Rams, even though his production is up there with the creme of the crop.
That's why it was nice to see him finally get some love and recognition. In ESPN's latest survey, executives, coaches, and scouts ranked the top quarterbacks in the game, and Goff, at No. 9, led the entire NFC North:
"Goff's last two years stack up well against just about any other quarterback. Over that time, he threw for 9,193 yards and 71 touchdowns. And only four quarterbacks have more 4,500-yard passing seasons than Goff's five -- Brees, Brady, Matt Ryan, and Peyton Manning. That's quite the class for Goff, whose consistent Pro Bowl performance has overshadowed the Rams discarding him for Stafford in 2021," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote.
Jared Goff is the best quarterback in the NFC North
While some may argue that sitting nearly out of the top ten isn't the flex Lions fans think it is, the fact that he was No. 1 in the division most definitely gives them bragging rights, especially with all the hype surrounding Caleb Williams.
The problems and questions with Goff have always been narrative-driven. Some argue that he only puts up those numbers because he plays indoors and/or has an elite supporting cast, yet can't give him any credit when the defense struggles.
Goff has more fourth-quarter comeback wins (18) than Josh Allen (17), Cam Newton (16), Andrew Luck (16), Troy Aikman (16), Justin Herbert (15), or Michael Vick (14), yet most people would choose all of them ahead of him in all-time rankings. Numbers lack context, and wins aren't always a quarterback stat, but the point is the same.
All quarterbacks have flaws, and Goff clearly isn't the exception to that rule. That said, it looks like he's just a victim of the context, and he's never been given a fair assessment or opportunity to make his case.
The Rams gave up on him, so he must be bad. He plays for the Lions, so he must be bad, and so on. Then, when it's time to explain why he's overpaid or why he shouldn't be considered a star, it's all crickets or tales from his days in Los Angeles.
Some fans will root for underdogs and comeback stories, praising Sam Darnold, Mac Jones, and late bloomers like Geno Smith, all while they seem to make up their mind about another quarterback after two years and never revisit it. Hopefully, that will only motivate Goff to prove them wrong in 2026.
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