5 biggest winners for the Detroit Lions after the 2023 NFL Draft

2. QB Jared Goff

Goff could be considered the biggest winner of the Lions’ 2023 draft, and Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit has him as such. Detroit passed on a quarterback with their top-10 pick, then cemented Goff as the clear-cut starter for possible two years by taking Hendon Hooker (working his way back from a torn ACL) in the third round.

The Lions also added two significant weapons to their top-tier offense from last year, in running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta. Both are in line for significant roles right away with big potential as substantial weapons for the Goff, who does his best work in the short and intermediate areas of the field off play-action.

Hooker is headed for a “redshirt” rookie season as he recovers from his injury and learns an NFL offense, using the words directly from Campbell’s mouth. How ready he’ll be to compete for the starting job in 2024 is unclear, and that’s the final year of Goff’s contract.

Absent a clear answer beyond the end of his current contract, if Hooker doesn’t assert himself as the one, the Lions may be left to sign Goff to a contract extension paying him a grade above where his actual ability should place him.

If being engaged to a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model doesn’t make Goff’s life great enough, having an even more loaded Lions’ offense to pilot and seemingly a little bit better job security solidifies him as a post-draft winner.