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Quarterback Jared Goff (left) of the Detroit Lions speaks with head coach Dan Campbell (right) on the sideline during an NFL game in 2025.
The Detroit Lions landed a franchise quarterback in Jared Goff, but this year’s disappointing finish could have the team starting to prepare for the future.
The Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their Christmas night loss to the Minnesota Vikings, part of a three-game losing streak that has dashed hopes of another postseason run. The team’s offense struggled over that stretch, leading SI.com’s John Maakaron to suggest the Lions could use next year’s NFL Draft to retool and fix some of their lingering problems.
That includes a well-accomplished college quarterback who would be groomed into a long-term replacement for Goff.
Lions Land Carson Beck in Mock Draft
Maakaron suggested the Lions could land Miami quarterback Carson Beck with their fifth-round pick. The former Georgia quarterback, who has more than 11,000 passing yards over six collegiate seasons, would be seen as a developmental project, Maakaron wrote.
“Carson Beck will be that player Goff grooms over the next two to three seasons,” Maakaron wrote. “Beck should not see the field, as the league has proven the development of young quarterbacks has been subpar.”
The Lions already took one swing at finding a replacement for Goff, drafting former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round in 2023. He spent most of the next season recovering from a torn ACL, then struggled to maintain a spot on the roster in 2024.
During that time, Goff cemented his place atop the depth chart, casting aside any lingering worries from his struggles with the Los Angeles Rams. Goff earned a long-term contract extension, which dashed any hopes that Hooker could be a replacement, and the Lions ultimately parted ways with Hooker prior to this season.
There could be hope that Beck shows more potential. Maakaron cited NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, who noted that Beck has plenty of tools to become a successful NFL quarterback.
“Beck has prototypical size and arm strength. He has a quick/compact release and he operates with a very firm/strong base,” Jeremiah wrote. “He can power the ball into tight windows. I saw him consistently utilize anticipation, velocity and ball placement to fit the ball between a triangle of defenders. He flashes the athleticism to pick up free yards when they are presented, but he prefers to read through his progression and work from the pocket.”
Lions Looking for Answers After Disappointing Season
After this week’s loss to the Vikings, Lions head coach Dan Campbell suggested that the team will be making some offseason changes.
“I’m going to be looking at a lot of things, because I do not like being home for the playoffs, and I know our guys don’t either,” Campbell said, via The Associated Press. “Whenever you lose, man, it takes a village. Everyone is involved, including myself. I’m always going to look at myself first.”
Goff added that there will be plenty of time for retrospection after the season finale, sharing frustration at the outcome of the season.
“It sucks,” Goff said. “We’ll reflect on the whole season after next week, but yeah, it sucks.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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