Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Insider believes Lions can be ‘consistently dangerous’ because of one player

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/3/23

After revamping their secondary and replacing Jamaal Williams with another starting-caliber running back, the Detroit Lions were a consensus winner of NFL free agency.

However, NFL insider Peter King believes quarterback Jared Goff, not any of the free agent additions, is who could set the team up for potential sustained success.

“I think, quietly, the Lions have gotten competitive while building intelligently for the future,” King wrote. “…Detroit, on the verge of serious contention, picks sixth, 18th, 48th, 55th and 81st this year—a league-high five picks in the first 2.5 rounds. GM Brad Holmes has done an excellent job looking to the future while stocking his team for today. If Jared Goff is the answer at quarterback, the Lions will be consistently dangerous for the first time in some time.”

WATCH OUT for the @Lions next year. Knew their secondary was a weakness so they signed CJGJ, Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Mosely. The sneaky good signings of WR Marvin Jones Jr and RB David Montgomery joining Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Deandre Swift has Jared Goff SMILING
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 29, 2023

Goff had arguably his best season since 2018 under first-year offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in 2022. He ranked fifth in touchdowns (29), sixth in passing yards (4,438) and seventh in passer rating (99.3) while tying for the third-fewest interceptions (seven) of any quarterback to play in 15 or more games and making his third Pro Bowl.

It was the first time Detroit had a quarterback throw for at least 4,000 yards and 29 or more touchdowns in the same season since Matthew Stafford in 2017.

The 28-year-old Goff also tied his career low in single-season interceptions while recording the second-most touchdown passes and the third-most passing yards, third-best passer rating and third-best completion percentage of his career.

Goff led the Lions to their first winning season since 2017, marking just the sixth time since 2000 Detroit won nine or more games.

Most Passing Yards Through 80 Career Games, All-Time:

1. Patrick Mahomes - 24,241
2. Matthew Stafford - 22,528
3. Dan Marino - 21,848
4. Andrew Luck - 21,847
5. Kurt Warner - 20, 849
6. Kirk Cousins - 20,832
7. Dak Prescott - 20,804
8. Jared Goff - 20,747
9. Peyton Manning -…
— Russell Clay (@RussellJClay) April 3, 2023