Jared Goff named among most intriguing players for the 2023 season

Coming off one of the best years of his career in 2022, and with the team having high expectations, this is a big year for Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. He has two years left on his contract, he would certainly like a contract extension, and his potential successor (Hendon Hooker) was drafted in April.

ESPN's Dan Graziano (subscription required) has a list of the most intriguing players who could define the 2023 NFL season. Goff is a surprising inclusion on the list, but here's Graziano's case.

"If he has a big year and leads the Lions to the playoffs, they could decide that he's worth signing up as their long-term QB solution. (Again, he'll only be 29 next offseason.) If he flops and/or the Lions fail to live up to their preseason expectations, it will be easy for Detroit to get out of the contract next spring. Goff is due no more guaranteed money, and he would be just $5 million in dead money against the cap in 2024.""

- Dan Graziano, ESPN

I can say I attempted to find some "way too early 2024 cut candidates" for the Lions to get through the slower time on the NFL calendar, and it proved fruitless. The only one who stands out as a potential cut is Goff, with the cap implications (h/t to Over The Cap) Graziano hinted at-- $5 million in dead money, and just shy of $27 million in clear cap space if he is cut in 2024.

2023 is undeniably a huge year for Jared Goff

Goff is absolutely critical to how well the Lions do this season. And after a rebound in his second season in Detroit, he has very personal pressure to perform well again. He can set himself up as the Lions' long-term quarterback if he plays well this year, or set himself back on a course to never be a locked-in No. 1 quarterback for anyone ever again if he flops.

It feels like a stretch to call Goff one of the most intriguing players in the entire NFL for this season. But a lot is on the line in 2023, for himself and by easy correlation the Lions as a team.