Jared Goff: QB1

If it wasn’t already obvious that Detroit Lions Quarterback Jared Goff has earned his spot in the starting position, it is now. General Manager Brad Holmes and Head Coach Dan Campbell doubled down in post-season press conferences expressing that Goff is their guy.

Goff has led the Lions to a winning season a year after locking in three wins. While it wasn’t the best start to the season, Coach Campbell credited him for being a major part of the rebound.

“I mean, it was a hell of a year by him. He’s one of the biggest reasons we even got this turnaround, just his decision-making, taking care of the football.”

His stats this year were nothing short of impressive. The so-called “bridge quarterback” has proven himself to be among the NFL’s best quarterbacks this season. Goff ended the season with 382 completions for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns with a passer rating of 99.3. Not to mention, he only threw seven interceptions. While “bridge” may have been the word several people used to describe Goff, Brad Holmes says it was never in his vocabulary.

“I never really deemed him as a bridge. I think everybody else did, but I think it’s a little bit of the recency bias he had to go through last year.”

Jared Goff has been ELITE at protecting the football down the stretch 👀 #OnePride pic.twitter.com/Ug6PYl4KJM
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 9, 2023

After five years including a Super Bowl appearance with the Rams, Goff found himself in the middle of a trade deal with the Detroit Lions. The Rams sent two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and Jared Goff to Detroit and received Matthew Stafford in return. It was a deal many weren’t fond of due to losing their beloved Stafford, but Coach Campbell believes Goff is the man for the job.

“He fits us, he really does. He fits us, we’re about running the football, play action pass and when you do those things you need a quarterback that can get you in the right play and is very good at accuracy. Throwing the football, decision making, and he fits the bill on all of that.”

What does Jared Goff have to do to win over the Detroit Lion fans? #OnePride
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 11, 2023

Will the Lions Draft a QB?

As the season has now come to an end for the Lions, the draft is now at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Despite Goff’s impeccable season, many still have high hopes for taking a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Lions have the No. 6 and No. 18 picks in the first round of the draft. While drafting a quarterback isn’t out of the question, Brad Holmes made sure it was clear Goff is the starting quarterback in Detroit.

“I think it’s a easier to get worse at quarterback than to get better at quarterback in this League. And so, I think what Jared (Goff) has done this year, he – captain of the ship of a top three offense and I want to say he was top 10 statistically in most of the passing categories. So, and again you know how we approach the Draft, like we’re never going to turn down a good football player. So, if there’s a football player we really love, I mean we’re going to make sure every stone is unturned. But I do think that Jared has proven everybody that he is the starting quarterback for us.”

.@OfficialBraylon on how impressive Jared Goff has been for the Detroit Lions #OnePride
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 11, 2023

Holmes says the area that needs the most attention is the defense. After coming in dead last on the rankings, he says they will definitely be utilizing some resources to improve in that area. He says he knows they still have a lot of work to put in, but between him and Coach Campbell, he’s confident in their aggressive approach.

“…we’re aggressively smart, so we’re going to put the work in. We’re going to put the time in. It’s going to be well thought out. It’s going to be planned and prepared. “

Detroit Lions Signings

The Detroit Lions have now signed 11 players to Reserve/Future contracts. They most recently added TE Derrick Deese Jr. to that list. Here is the full list: