Should Detroit Lions Pursue Lamar Jackson?

DETROIT — No team may be better equipped to negotiate with star quarterback Lamar Jackson than the Detroit Lions.

The Lions have a young roster, money to spend, multiple draft picks and something no other team could offer the Baltimore Ravens in a trade, a veteran quarterback coming off a stellar 2022 season.

A potential trade could see the Lions sending two first-round draft picks (No. 6 and No. 18) and quarterback Jared Goff, who is locked up for the next two years at an average of $26.5 million. Considering quarterbacks are earning north of $35 million on average, Goff's contract certainly feels like a steal.

If the Lions were to consider this, and if the potential trade entices the Ravens, would it be worth it from the Lions standpoint?

While Goff played well enough last season to be the team's signal caller in 2023, he's not essentially a superstar like Jackson, who could bring a level of versatility to an already explosive Lions offense. A move would instantly position the Lions among the favorites in the NFC.

Even though Jackson is coming off a bit of a down year, including missing the six games, it's fair to note putting the 2019 NFL MVP in a Lions uniform would be an instant upgrade from almost every offensive perspective compared to the Ravens.

The Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the league, explosive wide receivers and elusive running backs, all of which are considerable upgrades compared to the Ravens.

Imagine a Jackson-D'Andre Swift run-pass option, or a Jackson to Jameson Williams 50-yard bomb in stride. How about Jackson calling his own number behind that stellar offensive line or a slant pattern to Amon-Ra St. Brown on fourth and four.

Although Head Coach Dan Campbell said the team loves Goff, he indicated Goff may not be the team's long term answer at quarterback, and suggested the team could look at quarterbacks in this year's NFL Draft.

But do any of them jump out at you at as a potential successor to Goff, in two years or so?

The window to win a Super Bowl in the NFL is usually short, and even though the Lions have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, they feel like a win now team. And what better way to go for it all than bringing in a superstar quarterback. The Los Angeles Rams did it with Matthew Stafford and won the Super Bowl.

If this scenario were to be discussed, the Lions would have to make Jackson among the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL. He's reportedly seeking a fully guaranteed contract up around $250 million. Paying Jackson that kind of money could mean losing out on resigning some young talent the Lions are currently developing over the next few years.

Losing the two first-round draft picks would also mean the Lions would need to add defensive pieces through the later rounds and free agency. The Lions have also been linked to trade rumors surrounding Los Angeles Rams' superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

It feels like, in some ways, it depends on how aggressive the Lions what to be. After ending the season winning eight of their last ten games and knocking the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs, the Lions positioned themselves as worth NFC North contenders.

There's no reason to think Goff will drop off next year behind an offensive line that should only get better along with plenty of young emerging offensive talent at the wide receiver and running back positions.

Goff's friendly contract would also allow the Lions to pursue defensive talent in free agency and potential trades. You put all that together with two first-round draft picks, presumably defensive talent, the Lions should be considered favorites in the NFC heading into next year.

Keeping Goff and adding more young talent through the draft puts the Lions in a good position for the future, but is it worth sacrificing a superstar quarterback for?