Lions' Jared Goff shares why now was right time to sign extension

Earlier this week, NFL insider Mike Florio openly wondered why Lions quarterback Jared Goff agreed to a massive contract extension amid springtime workouts instead of extending negotiations through the summer in an attempt to earn more guaranteed money. 

Goff addressed that topic during a Thursday news conference related to his deal. 

"You can go back and forth on the numbers and whatnot and that wasn’t really the thing that was ever something I was extremely concerned with," Goff explained, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "It was the security and the no-trade clause and all that stuff, making sure that all that was in there. Feeling secure and knowing that I can now put that behind me and be excited about what’s to come."

Along with the no-trade clause, Goff received a four-year extension that included $170M guaranteed and could be worth up to $212M. On Thursday, Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper noted that "the practical guarantees in the contract come to more than $148M."

The Rams somewhat unceremoniously traded Goff to Detroit after the 2020 campaign, and the Lions went 3-13-1 in his first season with the organization. Since then, Goff helped Detroit go 8-2 across its final 10 games of the 2022 season before he guided the 2023 Lions to the division title and the NFC Championship game. 

The Lions hadn't won a playoff contest since January 1992. 

"Obviously, the wins and whatnot and getting the contract are amazing, but being able to go through that together with my teammates and with my family, go through the dark times and grow through those times and learn more about yourself and work on yourself, that’s the win in all this," Goff added during his comments. "I’m happy to be able to stand in front of you and be your quarterback for a lot longer, but this city’s meant a lot to me."

As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Lions tied for fourth among the betting favorites at +1200 odds to win Super Bowl LIX. Detroit opens the upcoming regular season with a home "Sunday Night Football" matchup against the Rams. Goff and the Lions defeated Los Angeles in the wild-card round of this year's postseason tournament.