Jared Goff, the Detroit Lions quarterback, chose a bad day to play his worst game of the season. Despite a strong season, Goff struggled in his first playoff game against the Washington Commanders, throwing three interceptions and completing only 57.5 percent of his passes, his lowest rate of the season. His passer rating of 59.7 was tied for his lowest of the season. Only Goff’s November 10 game against the Houston Texans produced such a low passer rating, and the Lions won.
On Saturday, after compiling the best 15-2 record in franchise history, Detroit was eliminated from the playoffs in their first game, losing 45-31 to Washington. In 2024, Jayden Daniels, the NFL’s second-overall pick, outperformed Goff, who was the top pick in 2016. Daniels threw for two touchdowns, ran for 51 yards, and had an impressive passer rating of 122.9, his third-highest of the season.
Nonetheless, there is no doubt that Goff has played an important role in the Lions’ turnaround. In 2021, he joined the Los Angeles Rams as part of a trade involving veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. Following a 3-13-1 season in Goff’s first year in Detroit, things improved quickly. The Lions went 9-8 in 2022, their first season above.500 since 2017, and then 12-5 in 2023, with Goff leading them to the NFC championship game. And, of course, 2024 was the Lions’ best year ever—until the final game.
It’s time for Lions to start preparing for life after Goff.
So it appears unlikely that the Lions will release Goff anytime soon. According to Wright Sports Network co-founder Daniel Alamdea, the Lions should prepare for life after Goff, as his style is outdated and has failed to lead the team to a Super Bowl.
Alameda’s piece for Wright Sports on Sunday was titled “The Detroit Lions Will Replace Jared Goff With Joe Milton,” and it predicted that the Lions would sign the New England Patriots rookie backup quarterback, who debuted in the season’s final game against the Buffalo Bills and put on an eye-opening performance to say the least.
“Although it’s only one game vs. backups, Milton showed real progress with his drop-back footwork and accuracy, registering a +22.5 percent completion percentage over expectation, the second-highest mark by a QB in any game this season,” according to Lazar.
The Patriots, of course, draughted Drake Maye out of North Carolina third overall last year, and Maye possesses all of the characteristics of a franchise quarterback, making Milton prime Patriots trade bait. According to Jordan McElroy of the Patriots Wire blog, Milton could be worth a third-round pick or even a second-rounder in trade, which would be “a major win” for New England.
Milton’s style is better suited to how NFL quarterbacks are trending.
According to Alameda, Milton’s 6’5″, 246 pound athletic style aligns with the NFL’s current trend of looking for quarterbacks who can make plays outside the traditional pocket and exploit defences in new ways. As the league evolves, the need for a quarterback who can make plays off the clock and with his legs may become more apparent, making Milton a more appealing option as the team continues to prepare for the future.”
According to Alameda, Milton’s replacement of Goff will take time. Goff’s contract runs until 2028, and the Lions still owe him $162 million in total base salary. However, Milton would be an economically viable addition, with three years remaining on his $4.2 million rookie contract.
“One of the primary reasons Joe Milton could replace Jared Goff lies in the developmental potential he brings to the table,” he said. “Milton has been exposed to various offensive systems and coaching styles while attending the University of Michigan and then Tennessee. His experience in various programs will help him adapt to a system more easily than other raw prospects.”
