The Detroit Lions-Jared Goff pairing has been a mostly successful one over four-plus seasons.
We say "mostly successful" because while Goff has helped turn things around in Detroit, he has yet to get the team over the hump to a Super Bowl.
When he was with the Los Angeles Rams, the biggest knock on Goff was that he did not win the big one, and his play was regularly lackluster in the playoffs.
We saw yet another example of that last season, when Goff tossed three picks and lost one fumble in the season-ending loss to the Washington Commanders.
If Goff doesn't answer the bell in 2025 and the Lions fail to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl, it's fair to wonder if, at the very least, the clock will start ticking on his time as the starter in Detroit.
Granted, the Lions are tied to Goff through 2028, but that doesn't mean Detroit can't start planning for the future by drafting a quarterback, something the franchise has already done since acquiring Goff when it drafted Hendon Hooker in 2023.
AtoZ Sports' Travis May, Kyle Crabbs and Ryan Roberts believe it is possible the Lions do take a quarterback, as they have the Lions taking Oklahoma signal-caller John Mateer with a second-round selection in the 2026 NFL draft.
Over three years at Washington State and one year at Oklahoma, Mateer has scored 65 total touchdowns (40 passing) while completing 64.7% of his passes for 5,493 yards and tallying 1,305 yards on the ground, showing his dual-threat ability.
According to The Draft Network's scouting report, Mateer's strengths include arm talent, pocket presence, athleticism and improvisation.
The concerns for Mateer are size, arm strength and his propensity to stare down his primary target.
Mateer exploded onto the scene in 2024 after throwing for a completion rate of 64.6% and 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns to seven picks, and he rushed for 826 yards, which put him in the conversation as one of the top quarterback prospects.
However, his numbers have dipped in 2025 and that has caused his stock to fall. In nine games, Mateer has completed 63.9% of his passes for 2,087 yards and eight scores to seven interceptions. He has also rushed for less yardage with 329.
As a result, it's very realistic to think he'll be on the board on Day 2 in next year's draft.
We've already seen general manager Brad Holmes unafraid to draft a quarterback with Goff on the team, and while doing so in the second round would create quite the controversy, Holmes won't be afraid to do it again if it's a quarterback he loves.
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