Jared Goff tries to play coy regarding contract extension with the Lions

The Detroit Lions probably wanted to see what Jared Goff did this season before committing to him long-term. He did all he could do, with a fine regular season and a solid postseason as he led the team to the NFC Championship Game.

It has become a matter of time before the Lions get a contract extension done with Goff. All indications are those talks will ramp up now, and perhaps it will get done pretty early in the offseason. 2024 is the final year of his current deal, and he will not be a proverbial "lame duck" without a multi-year extension.

Goff is in line to get $40-$50 million per year in his new contract, that's a given with where the quarterback market has gone. The bigger question is the length of the deal, in terms of how long the Lions will be willing to lock in a commitment. The length of the deal could easily become a sticking point in contract talks, but it's hard to see much quibbling over what may only be a one year difference with the final year as a palatable out for the Lions anyway.

Jared Goff tries to brush off importance of new contract with the Lions

On Monday, as the Lions started their offseason, Goff naturally fielded questions about his long-term future in Detroit.

"In regards to my future, it’s not up to me," Goff said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "I love this place and we’ll see what happens as time goes on here. But yeah, I love this place and love Dan, love all the coaches, love all my teammates. It’s kind of out of my hands in some ways. It’s up to my representatives and obviously the people upstairs."

"How important is it? I don’t know. It’s just how the league goes," he said. "If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But I think I’ve loved every second of my time here and would love more. Again, I'll echo what I just said, I love Dan Campbell, I love the coaches, I love the players here and my teammates. Yeah, it would great, but it’s not up to me."

How important a new contract for Goff? It's pretty important even if won't say it, and even if it's not up to him the Lions have made it clear he is their guy beyond next season. Goff sentiment is expected, essentially saying nothing of real substance. But if it gets to the start of the new league year in March without news of a deal that keeps him in a Lions' uniform a little while longer, it will be a surprise.