Goff prioritized long-term security, NTC in new deal
Jared Goff broke the bank when he landed his new extension, but the Lions quarterback focused more on controlling his future than squeezing every possible dollar out of Detroit.
"It was mostly security," Goff said Thursday when asked what was most important to him in contract talks, according to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper. "You can go back and forth on the numbers and whatnot, and that wasn't really the thing that (I) was ever something extremely concerned with.
"The security, the no-trade clause, and all that stuff - knowing that was in there. Feeling secure and knowing that I can now put that behind me and be excited about what's to come."
While Goff wasn't prioritizing money, he still became the NFL's second-highest-paid player behind only Joe Burrow. The deal, formally announced Thursday, is reportedly a four-year, $212-million extension that includes $170 million guaranteed.
Putting pen to paper @JaredGoff16 pic.twitter.com/hxUQraTL71
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 16, 2024
Goff also received an NFL-record $73-million signing bonus, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The veteran quarterback landed in Detroit in 2021 as part of the deal that sent Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite being characterized as just a stop-gap option upon his arrival in Detroit, Goff has established himself as the Lions' franchise player while helping the team finally return to contender status. Detroit won its first-ever NFC North title in 2023 before ending a 32-year wait for a playoff victory during a run to the NFC Championship Game.
The 29-year-old has thrown for 12,258 yards and 78 touchdowns against 27 interceptions in 48 starts with the NFC North club.