While Russ is trending down as a QB at the moment, Jared Goff is trending up and having a bit of a career resurgence in Detroit!
After being traded to the Lions in 2021 after having an up and down career as a Ram, many people thought that Jared Goff's career was nearing it's end. I mean, it's Detroit ya know? That franchise has been really struggling forever it seems.
After a pretty poor season for the team in 2021, Goff and the Lions came to play in 2022. Goff showed that sure, good coaching is important, but you don't reach the Super Bowl (as Goff previously did with the Rams) if you're a total scrub QB. The Lions finished 2022 with a winning record and, heading into 2023 the Lions feel like a potential top NFC team considering the weirdness that is the NFC.
Goff has had a lot of ups and downs in his career but he seems to be slightly improving in my opinion even though he will be 30 in October. In my opinion, teams and even fans get too impatient with quarterbacks. QBs used to be actually developed before being thrown on the field.
Say what you want, but literally off the top of my head, Tom Brady, Pat Mahomes, and Aaron Rodgers waited at least their rookie seasons before becoming starters. NOT saying Goff is those guys, but there's similarities and everyone develops at a different pace.
I also think being shipped off and wrote off helped Goff dig deeper and play well. He did earn a Pro Bowl selection in 2022.
Goff is a nice pocket passer. Underrated arm strength and seems to be becoming smarter and more savvy with age.
The bigger test comes this season I believe for Goff. Goff is entering his eighth season and the Lions are no longer being slept on, they won't have surprise on their side anymore. The Lions are officially ON teams' radars.
But if Goff can replicate what he did last season or improve, he just might climb this list next season.
