[Honolulu_Blue]

What were the Lions realistic options if they didn't sign Goff?

They could have let him play out the final year of his contract. That would have given them additional data points to assess whether to re-sign him and then either sign him to an extension (at a price point that would almost certainly be above the $53M/year) (note that the Cowboys are getting ripped for waiting so long to sign Dak, which will just make his value go up and up), tag him (not sure what the price would be), or let him walk. The downside of this, is that it would hang over the team all year long and who knows how it would effect Goff and the team.

Maybe they're in a better spot if they do that, but there are still a lot of variables there.

I think we all agree that Goff isn't an elite quarterback and definitely shouldn't be the second highest paid player in the NFL based on talent, skill, etc. That being said, as others have noted, this is how contracts work in the NFL and what other options do the Lions have to actually get better at the position, if they decided not to re-sign Goff?

Unless something really weird happens (DeShaun Watson and that has turned out terrible), no one is trading any of these elite quarterbacks. So, trading for one of these types of players isn't an option.

They really don't get to free agency either. Lamar Jackson was a RFA a year ago, no one signed him, because the Ravens would have just matched any deal and top-end UFAs are rare or when they happen they come with their own risks like Cousins, who is 34 and has that Achilles. So, signing an elite quarterback in free agency isn't really an option either.

So, that leaves drafting one. That's a massive crapshoot. First, one of these elite quarterbacks needs to be available in the draft class. Second, you need to be in a position to be able to draft that player. Third, that player actually needs to reach his full potential. A franchise can be stuck trying to get all of those stars to align for decades, while they wallow in mediocre QB play.

The majority of the elite QBs are top 10 picks. I imagine if Lamar Jackson was coming out of college today, he would be a top 10 pick given how the league has changed since he was drafted.

The Lions window is now. They almost made the Super Bowl last year. They have a really strong roster.

Re-signing Goff was really their best and only realistic option.

Let's hope it works out!