It’s clear Jared Goff is not one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but is he one of the worst?
Take the early part of his first season with the Detroit Lions, with a stretch where he particularly looked like one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. Then look at his final five starts, where he ranked in the upper tier of the league in passer rating over that closing stretch (107.1).
Split the difference, and Jared Goff lands where he should be–somewhere in the low-middle tier of NFL starting quarterbacks. Let’s say top-20-25 range.
Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network has ranked out the 32 NFL starting quarterbacks right now. Goff came in at No. 29. Here’s a snapshot of the quarterbacks ranked around the Lions’ signal caller.
22. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
23. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
25. Davis Mills, Houston Texans
26. Zach Wilson, New York Jets
27. Daniel Jones, New York Giants
28. Carson Wentz, Washington Football Team
29. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
30. Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
31. Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers
32. Drew Lock, Seatle Seahawks
Jared Goff is not the fourth-worst starting quarterback in the NFL
Sam Darnold, Mitch Trubisky and Drew Lock are the only quarterbacks ranked below Goff by Miller. All three may not even start for their teams come Week 1. There’s an argument for Carson Wentz to be ranked higher, not that many people would make it assertively.
But Daniel Jones and probably Zach Wilson should be below Goff at this point, and Justin Fields and Davis Mills could be too unless potential and upside is leaned into. Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence are tougher conversations, based on their latent potential and what looks like a better situation for each of them this year.
Goff is who he is at this point. But entering a make-or-break season, he is absolutely not the fourth-worst starting quarterback in the NFL–and only ahead of the iffy trio he’s ahead of in Miller’s ranking.