Lions News: Peter Schrager names Jared Goff most important player in NFC

From coaches to linemen, can JG still find success with a depleted supporting cast?

As the Detroit Lions offense adjusts to losing a few key pieces, one analyst is calling Jared Goff the most important player in the entire NFC.

“I think Jared Goff is the single-most important player in the NFC this season,” NFL analyst Peter Schrager said on ESPN’s “Get Up” this week. “There has been a raid of his coaching staff from the last several years—six different coaches gone, including Ben Johnson, and now you’re telling me thank Frank Ragnow is gone, his long-time center?”

The question is—can Goff still get the job done in 2025, not only returning to the playoffs but helping Detroit finally win a Super Bowl ? This couples nicely with a Pro Football Focus article analyzing which quarterbacks received the most support from their teammates. Goff came in first.

“At the top, Detroit’s incredible supporting cast has been a big reason for Jared Goff’s career renaissance,” PFF’s Dalton Wasserman writes. “Following a mediocre 61.7 PFF passing grade in his first season with the Lions in 2021, Goff has recorded an 83.4 PFF passing grade over the past three seasons, 10th best in the NFL.”

The argument for Goff’s continued success—the Lions scored the top PFF receiving grade last season at an average of 89.1, and those weapons are sticking around for 2025. Detroit ranked fourth in PFF rushing grades at 91.2, and the monster duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are also running it back come 2025. However, the Lions ranked 14th in PFF pass-blocking grades last season.

“Considering Jared Goff owns a paltry 44.8 PFF passing grade under pressure over the past three seasons, interior pass protection could be the Lions’ Achilles’ heel this season,” Wasserman said.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Congrats to Sam LaPorta and now wife Callie, who tied the knot this past weekend.

• Next up from the DetroitLions.com’s questionnaire series for the rookies: Offensive lineman Tate Ratledge.

• Craig Reynolds attempting to speak some Portuguese—not too shabby!

• From over the weekend, Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon offers a sweet reflection on his father’s influence on his love of football.

• Wild—check out these 2013 Lions season ticket prices.