The Detroit Lions are in full swing with their OTAs as they prepare for the 2026 season. While much of the focus remains on the team's preparations, quarterback Jared Goff has once again become the subject of a familiar debate. 

On an episode of Locked On Lions, host Matt Dery pushed back against the growing narrative that Goff remains overlooked despite several successful seasons in Detroit.

"I don't find him underrated because I've just accepted the fact that five-plus years into this whole shebang, nobody's going to talk about Jared Goff because he doesn't do what those other guys do," Dery said. "Last year was a down year for the team. Still a good year for Goff as he made the Pro Bowl and the team won nine games."

Dery reacted to a recent NFL.com column by analyst Bucky Brooks, who called Goff "the most underrated quarterback in the game today." Brooks argued that the football world revolves around the athleticism and improvisation of stars like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

"Jared Goff is not discussed as one of the top quarterbacks in the league because, yes, you're right, from a sex appeal standpoint on the field, he is not a guy that's going to elude tacklers and make plays with his legs," Dery said.

Still, Dery believes Goff's résumé has already moved him beyond the underrated label.

Years of Production Make the 'Underrated' Label Hard to Sell

Over the years, Goff’s production has transformed the Lions' performance. At the same time, the respect and achievements he has achieved shouldn’t be overlooked.  

He has compiled a 90-60-1 career record while throwing for more than 39, 000 yards and 256 touchdowns.

After joining the Lions, he has transformed the franchise into an NFC contender. Before that, the team managed to win just one playoff game between 1958 and 2023.

During Detroit's disappointing 2025 season, Goff showcased his productivity throughout. He threw for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. 

That production is central to Dery's argument.

"All Jared Goff has done in the last four years in Detroit is win football games," he said.

Brooks' column praised Goff for becoming the elite quarterback as many expected when he entered the league in 2016. Dery did not dispute that assessment. He simply questioned whether a quarterback with years of strong production can still realistically be called underrated.

As the Lions prepare for another season with playoff expectations, the debate around Goff may continue. But the gap between perception and production is getting harder to ignore.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore