Quarterback Jared Goff has solidified himself as an NFL franchise quarterback the past four years with the Detroit Lions. In two of those campaigns, Goff had the Lions competing as one of the top teams in the entire league.
But things went south for the Lions during the 2025 campaign. Coming off a disappointing season, pundits have begun to question whether the Detroit Super Bowl window is actually closing.
SI on NFL Draft’s Justin Melo indirectly added to that narrative this week. On May 4, he projected the Lions to be in the first-round quarterback market next spring.
At No. 23 overall in his extremely early 2027 NFL mock draft, Melo predicted the Lions to select Oklahoma State signal-caller Drew Mestemaker.
“If the Detroit Lions fall short of their goals again, will they start thinking about drafting a young quarterback? Drew Mestemaker went from a zero-star walk-on at North Texas to throwing for 4,379 passing yards and 34 touchdowns with nine interceptions this past campaign,” wrote Melo. “Mestemaker followed coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. Don’t forget that Coach Morris helped mold 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward at Incarnate Word and Washington State.”
The draft analyst didn’t specify how quickly Mestemaker might replace Goff. But obviously, a 2027 first-round quarterback selection would have significant ramifications on Goff’s future with the Lions.
Would the Lions Draft a QB in the First Round of the 2027 NFL Draft?
It’s not 100% clear if Melo implied in his mock the Lions begin a bit of a rebuild or just make a change at quarterback in 2027. But either path would be bad news for Goff.
Goff turns 32 in October. He’s not going to be finished playing when his Lions contract ends after the 2028 NFL season. But with a quarterback selection in 2027, the team would possibly be planning an exit before Goff’s contract expires.
According to Spotrac, there’s a potential out in the quarterback’s deal after the 2027 campaign.
What’s perhaps most interesting about Melo’s prediction, though, was the draft analyst had the Lions picking at No. 23 in the first round. Barring a trade, with that selection, the Lions would be in the 2026 playoffs.
They wouldn’t have made a deep run, but with a 2026 playoff berth, Goff would have led the Lions to the postseason three times in four years.
That’s something Matthew Stafford never did.
It might take a worst finish than a wild card loss for the Lions to consider drafting a first-round quarterback next year.
Jared Goff’s Accomplishments With the Lions
Goff has become a fan favorite in Detroit over the past several years because of the success he and the team have experienced. But the Lions fan base has also rallied around Goff because of how the media has often portrayed him.
Whenever he or the team have struggled, rumors about replacing him resurface.
A narrative, however small, this summer about the team drafting a first-round quarterback next year is likely to only get the Lions fans to rally even more behind Goff.
It’s not hard to see why they love him. While the team didn’t make the 2026 postseason after a last place NFC North finish, the Lions recorded their fourth consecutive winning season.
The last time that happened was 1969-72.
Although the Lions won less last season, Goff still had a very strong campaign. He completed 68% of his passes for 4,564 yards. He also had 34 touchdowns and just eight interceptions to make his second consecutive Pro Bowl.
Goff would have to play a lot worse in 2026 for Lions fans to feel it necessary to target a first-round quarterback next year.
Lions Predicted to Make Surprise 2027 NFL Draft Decision Impacting Jared Goff