After a week filled with questions, light speculation and canned words from the general manager about it, news came Monday that the Detroit Lions and Jared Goff had agreed to a four-year, $212 million contract extension ($170 million guaranteed).
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the fourth year of the deal (2028) is an option of some kind, but in any case Goff is now (for now?) the second-highest paid quarterback in the NFL ($53 million per year).
The Lions were consistently clear that Goff was their guy, and they were in a position where they had no choice but to pay him his market value. When the contract details come out we'll see how the surface financial numbers hold up to scrutiny reporters don't often offer as PR agents for agents. But Goff got paid, as expected, and he stands as a symbol for the Lions rise to relevance.
As the dust settles from the immediate reaction to Goff's massive contract, here are three big winners and two losers from the deal.
3 winners and two losers from Jared Goff's contract extension
Winner: Jared Goff
Obvious, but let's get Goff out of the way as the biggest winner here. He has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league by many measures over the last two seasons, and since Ben Johnson took a bigger role in the Lions' offense (first as passing game coordinator, then as offensive coordinator) Goff has been excellent over the last two-plus seasons.
Goff has a situation that's hard to rival around the league. He has openly acknowledged just that, saying being traded to the Lions was "the best thing that ever happened to me, for my career and my development as a human."
How long Goff last as the second-highest paid quarterback in the league is the obvious question. But he should remain pretty high on the list when some other quarterback deal dust settles. On that note...