Jared Goff gets major respect, cracks NFL’s top-10 QBs of 2024

ESPN is continuing their lists of the top-10 players at each position, as voted on by NFL executives coaches, and scouts. On Monday, they dropped the quarterback list, and it features Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff cracking the top-10 list for the first time since its inception in 2020. He placed ninth on the list this year, ahead of some notable quarterbacks like Dak Prescott (10th), Brock Purdy (not ranked), Jordan Love (NR), Jalen Hurts (NR), Trevor Lawrence (NR), and Kirk Cousins (NR).

Not only had Goff never made the list before, but he was only an honorable mention a single time in the previous four years—last year. Here’s what ESPN author Jeremy Fowler wrote in 2023:

“Goff rarely got a single vote over the past three seasons, but this year he appeared on nearly 25% of the ballots after leading Detroit to nine wins, thanks in part to a 29-7 touchdown-interception ratio.”

After helping the Lions to get to the NFC Championship last year, the narrative on Goff has completely shifted. But even more telling than Goff’s ninth overall ranking is the specific praise he got from NFL insiders. This isn’t just about him now being “a winner,” or game-managing an offense led by coordinator Ben Johnson. Goff is getting real, tangible praise for specific traits that often go underappreciated.

“He’s the best in the NFL at throwing into zone coverage windows,” an anonymous NFL coordinator told ESPN. “I’ve shown young quarterbacks tape of him and how he throws with anticipation.”

“He used to seem nervous in the pocket, but now he’s cool in there,” an NFC executive said. “I don’t think he has that pressure on him like he did in L.A. Detroit has embraced him and he’s responded.”

Last year, Goff finished second in passing yards (4,575), fourth in passing touchdowns (30), ninth in passer rating (97.9), and 11th in QBR. If you back up the stats to when Detroit started to turn things around—circa Thanksgiving in 2021—Goff’s statistical output has been as good as anybody’s.

It’s good to see that public perception is finally catching up with reality, and people who know ball see both how good Goff is and how much he has improved since landing with the Lions in 2021.