Jared Goff can't seem to crack the top of any quarterback rankings this season despite hitting the ground running.
While he has no turnovers, eight touchdown passes, 802 total passing yards, and a passer rating of 116.1 through three games, PFF has placed Goff at 15th on their latest quarterback ranking through three weeks of action.
"With a 79.4 PFF grade through the first three weeks of the season, Goff ranks 10th at the position. Like Young one spot above him, a big reason why he sits where he does is avoiding big mistakes, with his 0.8% turnover-worthy play rate trailing only Jayden Daniels and Young," wrote Gordon McGuinness.
Goff is avoiding making big mistakes with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by a lack of explosive plays for the Lions this season. So, because he's being smart with the ball and avoiding riskier passes so early in the year, he's being knocked down a peg on these rankings in favor of players like Bryce Young, Drake Maye, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love.
...Okay.
Goff being penalized for 'cerebral' play to start 2026 season
Head coach Dan Campbell was recently asked to react to comments made by former offensive coordinator and now Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who said he had, "a little history with that, of calling plays for someone not so mobile," comparing Goff to Case Keenum.
Campbell said, "No. Goff's game is cerebral. That's his game, and he's damn good at it. We run the offense we run, and we're good at it because of Jared Goff."
Goff has since told Amon-Ra St. Brown on the "St. Brown Podcast" that Johnson immediately called him up to say that it wasn't meant as a jab, and more so as a lighthearted joke about a well-known Goff weakness. But, it is a good glimpse into how Goff is thought of around the league, and how that one area of his game that has gone underdeveloped dictates a narrative around him.
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Goff is a top-10 quarterback in the league - even by PFF's standards! - and yet, because he's a ton more careful and methodical in the pocket and with the ball in his hands, he's penalized. He's not a huge risk taker because there's no point in risking turnovers with so many weapons and play makers available to the Lions.
This aspect to his game, coupled with an easy schedule this season, is sure to keep Goff out of the conversation for a lot of end of season awards. It's not right, but ultimately, what matters most is Goff helping get the Lions to a Super Bowl win.
Still, it'd be nice to see him get some recognition over a quarterback like Maye (1-2), or Love (1-2), or Herbert (goose egg in the win column).
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