Lions GM addresses Jared Goff contract extension talks

The Detroit Lions may not view third-round draft pick Hendon Hooker as an eventual replacement for starting quarterback Jared Goff, after all. 

According to Kyle Meinke of Mlive.com, Lions general manager Brad Holmes addressed negotiations with Goff regarding a possible contract extension during a Tuesday appearance on Detroit sports radio station 97.1 The Ticket.

"Yeah, we’ve had (internal) dialogue there," Holmes explained. "We’ve had dialogue with his agent, and we’re in a good place right now." 

Goff is only signed through the 2024 campaign and said before the draft that his camp hadn't yet entered contract extension negotiations with the Lions. The 28-year-old added at that time he and Holmes "had good talks" that occurred "more toward the end of last season or right after the end of last season," but Holmes later acknowledged he could spend a first-round pick on a signal-caller. 

Detroit instead was among the clubs that let Kentucky Wildcats product Will Levis slide all the way out of the first round. The Lions then grabbed Hooker with overall pick No. 68.

As Chris Low mentioned for ESPN, Hooker suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee this past November. While orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache sent a letter to NFL teams last week informing them Hooker is on track to be "fully cleared by the first weekend" of the upcoming season, Meinke wrote that the 25-year-old "probably won’t play at all" during the 2023 campaign and also "probably won’t start next season." 

Thus, the Lions understandably may want to lock Goff up this spring or summer to avoid his value potentially increasing. 

Per ESPN stats, Goff ended the 2022 regular season ranked fifth among qualified players with a 61.1 adjusted QBR, seventh with a 99.3 passer rating, tied for fifth with 29 passing touchdowns and sixth with 4,438 passing yards. He guided the Lions to a 9-8 record and had them in the playoff hunt through the campaign's final Sunday afternoon.