Throughout his five seasons leading the Detroit Lions thus far, Jared Goff has consistently been among the NFL’s top passers.
Goff has ranked second in the NFL in passing yards in each of the past three regular seasons and inside the top five in passing touchdowns each of the past four regular seasons. The 6-foot-4, 217 pound signal-caller owns a 48-33-1 record as the Lions starter and has directed 15 fourth quarter comebacks or game-winning drives during his time in the Honolulu blue.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Goff was acquired by the Lions in the Matthew Stafford trade ahead of the 2021 NFL season.
Goff’s steady hand as the Lions’ quarterback has earned the respect around the league. In ESPN’s survey of NFL executives, coaches and scouts, Goff is ranked as the No. 9 overall quarterback and as the top NFC North quarterback.
Goff just eclipsed Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who checked in at No. 10 in the NFL executives, coaches and scouts’ quarterback rankings.
Goff’s last two years stack up well against just about any other quarterback. Over that time, he threw for 9,193 yards and 71 touchdowns. And only four quarterbacks have more 4,500-yard passing seasons than Goff’s five — Brees, Brady, Matt Ryan and Peyton Manning. That’s quite the class for Goff, whose consistent Pro Bowl performance has overshadowed the Rams discarding him for Stafford in 2021.
“The guy wins,” an NFL coordinator said. “He’s going to find a completion if not under pressure. Mature pocket passer with a plus arm who can layer the ball at all levels.”
Pocket pressure did plague Goff a bit in 2025, when he took a career-high 38 sacks. One knock on him in the past has been his playmaking when the pocket collapses. But he’s known in league circles for good footwork, and he has improved his toughness from inside the pocket over five years in Detroit.
Goff appeared on nearly 60% of ballots to earn a spot in the top 10. – Jeremy Fowler, ESPN
Goff was ranked as high as No. 5. It’s the second straight year in which Goff has been ranked by the NFL’s executives, coaches and scouts as the league’s No. 9 quarterback.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen grabbed the No. 1 ranking, supplanting Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes from the top spot. Mahomes is ranked No. 2, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is ranked No. 3, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow No. 4 and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson No. 5.
Goff, 31, is entering his 11th NFL season and his sixth as the Lions’ starting quarterback.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff ranked as top NFC North QB in ESPN survey
Reporting by Josh Helmer, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Josh Helmer, Lions Wire | USA TODAY Network
