When the Detroit Lions handed Jared Goff a four-year, $212 million contract in 2024, it was viewed as a reward — not a risk. Goff had revived his career in Detroit and, in turn, helped resurrect a struggling franchise. But just one season later, that deal is already under the microscope.
According to NFL Spin Zone’s Lou Scataglia, Goff’s blockbuster extension is the worst contract on the Lions’ books heading into 2025.
“Jared Goff has revived his career with the Detroit Lions, but the playoff success just has not been there. Goff is near the top of the QB market with $53 million per year,” Scataglia wrote. “At some point, the Lions are going to need their franchise QB to put this team on his back and take them on a run.”
And that’s the problem: Goff hasn’t done that yet.
Regular Season Hero, Postseason Question Mark
Goff’s resurgence in Detroit has been impressive. He’s stabilized a quarterback position that had been a revolving door and led the Lions to back-to-back winning seasons. He’s smart, accurate, and fits perfectly into offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s system.
But in a league that judges quarterbacks by playoff wins, Goff has yet to meet the moment.
The 2024 postseason was supposed to be different. Instead, the Lions were bounced earlier than expected by the Washington Commanders — a game in which Goff struggled mightily. He threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, playing a significant role in Detroit’s 45–31 defeat.
To be fair, he still led the offense to 31 points, which should have been enough to win. The defense, not Goff, gave up 45. But elite quarterbacks are often expected to overcome bad defense, carry the team when it matters most, and show they can go toe-to-toe in shootouts.
That hasn’t happened yet.
Is It Really the ‘Worst’ Contract?
Let’s be clear — this isn’t a Russell Wilson–level disaster. Goff is still a top-15 QB in the NFL, and his regular-season stats back that up. His leadership, poise, and locker room presence have helped change the culture in Detroit.
In fact, many analysts believe Goff is being singled out only because the Lions don’t have any true “bad” contracts on their payroll. The team is built efficiently, and outside of Goff’s price tag, there aren’t many bloated deals on the books.
But Scataglia’s point still stands: $53 million per year comes with Super Bowl-level expectations, and until Goff proves he can deliver in January, his massive payday will remain a point of contention.
“The regular season stats are great,” Scataglia added, “but that only goes so far.”
The Pressure Is On in 2025
With the NFC as wide open as ever, Detroit’s Super Bowl window is now. The core is young, the coaching staff is intact, and Goff is surrounded by offensive talent. There are no more excuses.
If Goff can elevate his play and make a deep playoff run in 2025, the $212 million won’t matter — it’ll feel like money well spent. But if the Lions come up short again, expect this contract to dominate Detroit sports talk all over again.
Final Word: Risk, Reward, or Regret?
Jared Goff’s extension was a symbol of belief — in him, in the rebuild, and in the future of Detroit football. But the NFL is a “what-have-you-done-lately” league. And unless Goff delivers postseason wins, the narrative will keep circling back to this:
Did the Lions pay a franchise QB — or overpay a good one?
