The Detroit Lions acquired quarterback Jared Goff from the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, and with Goff, they’ve enjoyed the greatest success that they’ve had in recent franchise history. Not only did he lead them to two postseason victories in early 2024 and brought them the closest to the Super Bowl that they’ve been in decades, but he also led them to a 15-2 campaign in the first season after that magical postseason run that came up just short.
Not only that, but they also made a major financial commitment to him by signing him to a four-year, $212 million extension that makes him one of the highest paid players in the NFL at his position.
Needless to say, he should be considered one of the untouchables on the Lions as they look to rebound from what was a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw them finish 9-8 and miss out on what would have been a third straight playoff appearance.
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Wild Trade Proposal Has The Detroit Lions Trading Jared Goff To The AFC West
While the chances of the Lions actually trading Goff are remote, that didn’t stop a wild trade proposal from being pushed forward.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report wrote that a Lions trade of Goff during the offseason is a possibility, and listed the Las Vegas Raiders as a potential landing spot while saying they could receive the first overall selection in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft and the rights to draft presumed first overall pick in QB Fernando Mendoza in return.
“The Raiders have the money and go for the surer thing,” he wrote. “The Lions try an immediate reset with presumed top pick Fernando Mendoza.”
While writing about why the Lions would even entertain the idea of moving on from Goff, Gagnon pointed to the salary cap space that it would free up along with his idea that the team is moving in the wrong direction after missing out on the playoffs in this most recent season.
“The 31-year-old Goff is statistically elite, but he has a career playoff passer rating of 85.1 and the extremely talented Lions have won just two playoff games the last three years,” he wrote. “They also seem to be headed in the wrong direction following a non-playoff 2025 campaign. It’s possible we’ve seen the best of Goff, and that he’ll never be the guy to take this franchise to the next level.
If there’s any chance the front office is having that realization, it could be tempted to free up nearly $26 million in cap space while loading up on draft resources via a surprising offseason trade.”
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Jared Goff Won’t Be Traded From The Lions
Simply put, it’s a silly proposal from Gagnon, if not provocative.
The Lions have invested too much money in Goff to part ways with him on a whim, and with new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing in the fold for 2026 and beyond, Goff is expected to continue the strong showing that he’s displayed in recent years in Detroit.
In 2025, Goff accumulated 4,564 passing yards (second overall in the NFL) and 34 touchdowns (also second overall). Additionally, he was ranked third among all NFL quarterbacks in overall passer rating.
