Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff just earned his highest career spot in The Athletic’s annual NFL Quarterback Tiers rankings, coming in at No. 8 overall and firmly in Tier 2.
The voting panel, made up of 50 NFL coaches and executives, placed Goff just behind Justin Herbert (No. 7) and ahead of C.J. Stroud (No. 9). It’s the third straight year Goff’s climbed the ladder, and his average vote of 2.06 marks a career-best.
TL;DR
Jared Goff ranked No. 8 QB in the NFL, per The Athletic’s QB Tiers.
Highest career ranking, average vote of 2.06.
Praised for elite anticipation throwing; league-high 96 TDs in last three years.
Some doubts remain about his need for a strong supporting cast.
2025 season will test him without OC Ben Johnson.
Why Goff Is Getting More Respect
One head coach didn’t hold back when praising the Lions signal-caller:
“Goff and Burrow are probably the two best anticipation throwers that I have seen lately, so you have to put him at a 1. You might put him at a 2 from a pure quarterback standpoint — he struggles to extend plays — but the guy has played at a 1 level for three years.”
Over the past three seasons, no quarterback in the NFL has thrown more touchdowns than Goff’s 96. His precision and ability to get in rhythm have become hallmarks of Detroit’s high-powered offense.
The Ben Johnson Factor
With Ben Johnson gone to coach the Chicago Bears, there’s curiosity around whether Goff’s success was more about the coordinator or the quarterback. One NFL exec is betting on the QB:
“You will see this year if it is the coordinator or the quarterback, but I think it has been more the quarterback than advertised. Goff and Mayfield are legit guys who can get in a rhythm and dice you up. They are not as good as the top guys in Tier 1, but they deserve to be up there.”
Still Some Doubters
Eight voters slotted Goff into Tier 3. Their reasoning? They believe he needs the right supporting cast, run game, defense, and all to thrive. As one voter put it:
“He’s a 3 because he needs the run game, he needs a defense, he needs all those things.”
A QB Who Has Grown Up
Even Goff’s critics admit he’s improved. A defensive coordinator noted that earlier in his career, forcing him into a pure dropback game led to mistakes. That’s not the case anymore.
“He is better in that area as far as protecting the football. He has a good run game, they have a good team. I’m not going to hold that against him too much.”
Why It Matters for the Lions
The Lions enter 2025 as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. With John Morton taking over at offensive coordinator, Goff will be tasked with proving that his Tier 2 label — and that No. 8 ranking — is just the start. If his track record of consistency holds, Detroit might just have the steady quarterback play needed to get over the postseason hump.