Analyst's ranking shows Lions QB Jared Goff still has something to prove

The Detroit Lions and quarterback Jared Goff are heading into another season trying to get to the big game. In a few short years, they've gone from the laughingstock of the NFL to true contenders. But last season was an anomaly, and they finished the 2025 season last in the NFC North.

Now, it's up to Goff, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions to turn things around in 2026. Losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears in 2025 proved to be a difficult hurdle for the team, but now they have one Johnson-less season under their belt, so they know what to expect.

Ahead of the 2026 season, Goff is getting some kudos. In a feature on Wednesday, Nick Shook of NFL.com named him the No. 2 quarterback in the NFC North, only behind Bears signal-caller Caleb Williams, and Shook even admitted that his Williams pick might be a bit biased.

"Look, I know it was only one great season, but I love watching Caleb Williams play football," Shook said.

Lions' Jared Goff is near a 'top-10 ranking'

"We've long known Jared Goff is at his best when he's well protected, and the Lions struggled with that in 2025," Shook said. "Still, Goff produced excellent numbers even amid Detroit's O-line decline, a credit to the former No. 1 overall pick's persistence and mental toughness."

He added: "I have a pretty good idea of who Goff is at this stage of his career: a QB who will flirt with a top-10 ranking, provided disaster doesn't strike."

So long as Goff is surrounded by healthy talent and has a decent play-caller, he should be golden in 2026. Goff still has something to prove, and 2026 could be his year to do it.