What a time to be alive in Detroit, Michigan.
Not only have the Detroit Lions won 5 out of their last 6 after a 1-6 start, but they have been galvanized by an unlikely hero: Jared Goff. For the last month, he has completely turned the narratives around him on his head. Brad Holmes comments about Goff not being a bridge quarterback go from being an empty gesture of confidence to a real possibility. Goff’s cap hit at just over 62 million for the next 2 years is relatively cheap, but some fans still want to let go of his age and inconsistent play over the last couple of years.
Drafting a QB in the 2023 draft is not only unlikely, but it would also be the wrong choice for a multitude of reasons. The obvious one being that the Lions will not be holding the top pick in the draft. The Texans are on a collision course with the first pick, and it’s more likely than not that they will select Alabama product Bryce Young. That leaves 2 options for Detroit to draft in the first round.
The first is the consensus #2 QB in the class, CJ Stroud out of Ohio State. Stroud has fallen out of favor with draft analysts recently, and there are some clear flaws to his game. However, there is no denying that he has the most accurate arm in the entire class. I really don’t see him as a good fit for the Lions, especially with the Rams pick in the top 5. The Lions should be having their eyes on a defensive player with that pick.
The second option would be Kentucky’s Will Levis. Easily the most polarizing prospect in this draft, he has all the traits of the new generation of franchise Quarterbacks. One problem: he has rarely had 2 good games in a row. He is very raw and would not start right away, especially for a team like Detroit which has a more than capable Quarterback manning the helm already. He would most likely be picked with the Lions second pick in the first round if they were to draft him.
Out of the 2, the one that makes more sense is Levis. He’s the better athlete than Stroud, and has a higher ceiling. The problem with that is the Lions have a lot of clear holes in their roster, and QB should honestly be one of their last concerns. I say give Goff at least to the end of his contract to prove his worth as a starter. He’s earned that right.
