After signing a new four-year, $212 million contract extension with a record $73 million signing bonus, Lions quarterback Jared Goff can undoubtedly put his skeptics to rest. He has supporters in the organization, he has been paid, and that is all that matters.
Even in his news conference to discuss his contract renewal, Goff stated that he performs “best when I’m doubted.” The poor critique he offered the Detroit media in April demonstrates that he will almost certainly never stop observing people who doubt him. Which is OK, since athletes should seek motivation wherever they believe they can. The chip on his shoulder after Sean McVay and the Rams traded him is unlikely to go away, no matter how his career progresses.
Goff acknowledged in that post-contract press conference that he’ll have to be more inventive when it comes to finding doubters about his place among his quarterback peers.
Well, if he wants to find fresh fuel to that “doubters” fire, some has been given to him.
ESPN analyst offers Jared Goff some new “doubter” fire
Given the high value of statistical projections in May, ESPN’s Mike Clay has gone team-by-team and done some. The exercise includes a fantasy football component, as it is Clay’s primary responsibility at ESPN.
Clay rates Goff as the 22nd best QB. Even those who don’t think Goff is a competent fantasy quarterback would consider that a touch low (low-end QB2). In terms of raw metrics, Clay predicts Goff throwing for 3,754 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, with two missed games. Clay graded Goff as the 17th-best quarterback around this time last year, which the Lions’ signal caller of course outperformed. There’s no real reason to downgrade him in this year’s rankings, except from the possibility that he’ll miss a few games, and injuries are naturally unpredictable.
Goff may not ever know or care about the stat projections of an ESPN analyst who has roots in fantasy football. But if he wants to find a doubter, Clay’ early stat projection for 2024 can be used as such.
