After a historical year of success in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions have made a pivotal contract move on star quarterback Jared Goff. Detroit is signing Goff to a four-year, $212 million extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Goff is now the highest-paid Lion in franchise history. The move looks to help the team stay toward the top of the NFL.

Jared Goff's new Lions contract pushes the team forward 

Goff's 2023-24 production ranked him among the best quarterbacks in the league. He amassed 4,575 passing yards (second in the NFL), 30 touchdowns (fourth), and boasted a QBR of 60.3. Furthermore, Goff helped the Lions win the NFC North regular season divisional title as well as a trip to the NFC Championship game.

As a result, the Lions rewarded the star quarterback with a hefty contract boost. Goff's 2023-24 campaign was impressive, but he was a seasoned professional before he came to Detroit.

Jared Goff started his professional career with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016 when the team selected him with the first overall pick in the draft. He played just seven games his rookie year, but he built a foundation that helped him quickly improve. Goff threw for 3,804 yards and 28 TDs during his second season in 2017-18. Then, he made an absurd jump.

The former California Golden Bear totaled a career-high 4,688 yards and 32 TDs in his third season. He continued his stellar production for two more years before joining the Lions in 2021. Goff tallied 3,245 yards and 19 TDs in his first year with Detroit.

Since then, he has had one of the best runs of his career. For the past two seasons, Goff has played all 17 regular season games and amassed nearly 4,500 yards and 30 TDs each year. His presence should help elevate the rest of Detroit's talented squad.

Fans are stoked for Detroit to continue their journey

Fans on social media did not hold back upon hearing the news of Goff's extension:

While many fans are stoked about the franchise's move on Goff, others are skeptical. Some X users claimed that the deal was a robbery and that it would only be a matter of time before Goff regresses.

Players will regress at some point in their careers, and the contract can be a gamble, but the level Jared Goff is at should help the Lions continue ascending. Goff is not the only one looking to lead the team to success in 2024-25.

The Lions are returning a plethora of stout contributors. Most notably, Goff's primary receiving target Amon Ra St. Brown is coming off after a great year. St. Brown hauled in 1,515 yards and 10 TDs on 118 receptions in 2023-24, all of which were top-five rankings. Thus, Detroit and the star WR agreed on a $120 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.

Detroit is not letting their top talent get away from them, and their stance is fitting considering how their 2023-24 year went. After going 12-5, Detroit clinched the top spot in the NFC North. They nearly made a trip to Super Bowl 58 after taking a 24-7 halftime lead against the San Francisco 49ers in the conference championship. However, SF rallied and beat Detroit 34-31.

It is an exciting time to be a Lions fan. The team's returning stars should help them achieve short and long-term success.