Lions HC Dan Campbell praises Jared Goff, leaves door ajar for QB selection

As many as four quarterbacks could hear their names called within the top 10 picks in the 2023 draft. The Detroit Lions hold the sixth selection, which could allow them to make an addition at the position should they so choose.

That seems unlikely, given the presence of incumbent Jared Goff and the team’s needs at other areas, though. When speaking about the matter of quarterback evaluations, Lions head coach Dan Campbell reaffirmed his believe in Goff while still leaving the door open for a drafted signal-caller. Video link courtesy of CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.

“What we were hopeful and thought we were going to get [in Goff] is a guy who, man, he’s our guy. He’s bought us time here. We believe we can win with Jared Goff. In the meantime, we also know he’s not going to be here for the next 10 years," Campbell said, before adding a slight kicker.

"It’s not like Jared Goff’s a rookie, so certainly our eyes are on, potentially a quarterback. And the question is, where do you acquire that at?" Campbell asked. "And that’s something that [GM] Brad [Holmes] and I kick around all the time… We don’t feel like we’re pressed. But that doesn’t mean our eyes aren’t on a quarterback.”

Goff is under contract for two more years, but the Lions could move on from him without ramification following the 2023 season. The team has the 18th and 48th selections for later in April and the latter could theoretically be used on Tennessee product Hendon Hooker, who has a visit lined up with Detroit. How that process goes could determine the team’s willingness to use a high pick on a potential Goff successor.

Here are some other draft-related items from the NFC:

• The Bears have, as expected, been active so far in free agency. Their spending to date has not, however, yielded an addition at offensive tackle. General manager Ryan Poles said (via The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain) that Chicago will “keep an eye” on the remaining veteran options, a group which was thinned out considerably during the opening days of the new league year. Poles confirmed that the next move will likely come at the draft, where they hold the No. 9 pick. That spot could land them Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski or Ohio State alum Paris Johnson Jr., as they also look to find the best long-term position for 2022 fifth-rounder Braxton Jones. The latter played full-time on the blindside as a rookie, but could move to right tackle depending on how the first round plays out.
• The offensive front is considered a strength for the Falcons, especially with right guard Chris Lindstrom in place on the largest contract in league history signed by an interior lineman. That has led many to expect Atlanta to look at other positions with the eighth overall pick, but NFL Network’s James Palmer notes the team is examining its o-line options with their top selection (video link). In particular, the Falcons could be eyeing Skoronski or Johnson (on the inside) to start their career, with the potential to take over from Jake Matthews at left tackle. The latter, 31, is on the books through 2026 but only has guaranteed money on his deal for two more seasons. A defensive addition would come as no surprise on Atlanta’s part, but they will have at least done their homework on the top lineman prospects regardless of what direction they choose to go.