Lions’ Jared Goff agrees to record-breaking extension: Winners, losers from the latest huge QB deal

The Lions continued their great offseason on Monday by signing Jared Goff to a four-year extension, US$212 million ($53 million per year)CBS Sports leader NFL insider Jonathan Jones confirmed. That makes Goff not only the highest-paid player in franchise history, but the second-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL by average annual value, behind only Joe Burrow ($55 million per year). Goff’s deal also includes $170 million guaranteed, Jones confirms.

Goff, 29, just led the Lions to their first NFC championship game since 1991 and symbolizes Detroit’s resurgence as a whole. Over the past two years, he has placed in the top 10 in several important categories.

As with any big deal, there are ripple effects throughout the NFL. Here are the winners and losers of Goff cashing in.

Winner: Jared Goff

This one is obvious, and not just for the money. When the Lions traded Matthew Stafford to the Rams in early 2021, Goff found himself in a difficult situation and his career as a starter appeared to be on the line. Two seasons after leading Los Angeles to a Super Bowl After his appearance, he was headed to a Detroit team with a rookie coach (Dan Campbell) and low expectations. It’s hard to remember now why Detroit and, in turn, Goff became such feel-good stories, but 2021 has been tough. The Lions went 3-13-1, and while Goff had a solid season, things could have gone any number of ways.

Everyone headed toward Goff. Most importantly, Detroit promoted Ben Johnson to replace Anthony Lynn as offensive coordinator. It also got big leaps from second-year players Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell, and a talented offensive line came together. Goff had a breakout performance, earning a Pro Bowl nod.

Things could have really gone off the rails for Goff after his unceremonious exit from Los Angeles. Instead, he persevered and improved. Last month, Goff said the deal was, “the best thing that has ever happened to me, for my career and my development as a human being.” Now he’s getting paid like this.

Winner: Amon-Ra St. Brown and the rest of the Lions core

Goff’s signing continues the Lions’ commitment to maintaining the pillars of their offense for the long haul. On April 24 they signed with St. Brown a four-year, $120 million extension and Sewell for a four-year, $112 million extension. So it’s been a great off-season for the Lions, but it’s also been a great off-season for the Lions’ best players: the team has demonstrated a great financial commitment to those who have earned it. That bodes well for a guy like Aidan Hutchinson, who will also become extension-eligible next offseason.

As for a single player, St. Brown could be the biggest long-term beneficiary. Fresh off a 119-catch season, St. Brown has established Goff’s elite chemistry and is an excellent fit for Goff’s strengths. Goff is a strong-armed quarterback who can throw mid-range balls over the middle with the best of them. Over the past two seasons, St. Brown’s 129 pass receptions between the numbers ranked third in the NFL, behind only Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.

Winner: Ben Johnson

Johnson has been a prominent name on the coaching carousel the past two seasons. He turned down interviews in 2023 to stay with Detroit, and after giving several interviews in 2024, he again chose to remain in the Motor City, even though he gave up on the Commanders’ search. while the team bosses were on their way to Detroit. Johnson brought Goff’s return to life by combining a strong running game, effective play action, creative designs that accentuate Goff’s strengths and smart plays. Johnson’s commitment to Detroit is being paid in full.

Depending on how you look at things, the Cowboys are a loser and Dak Prescott is a winner. Let’s focus on the first. Dallas overextended Prescott too long, and Goff is now yet another development that gives Prescott leverage in negotiations. Dallas has swung back and forth, with the most recent development being Executive Vice President Stephen Jones saying completing a new contract is a “priority”. In March, however, NFL Media reported that Prescott could play out the final year of his four-year, $160 million contract. no extension. Whatever the case, Prescott’s price just went up, and that’s a scary prospect for a Cowboys team that also needs to pay CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, among others.

It’s hard to consider Hooker too much of a “loser,” but the 2023 third-round pick is now slotted into Detroit’s backup role for the foreseeable future. That’s not really a bad thing — he’ll continue to learn under a talented veteran quarterback and under an excellent offensive coordinator — but it could be a tough pill to swallow, as as long as Goff remains healthy, Hooker won’t see the field much.