Friday open thread: What must Jared Goff do in 2021 to earn a second year at the helm?

In all likelihood, Jared Goff will be the Detroit Lions’ starting quarterback in 2021. The organization may draft a quarterback in the first round, but that rookie would likely sit for a year and develop. The team could also just roll with Goff and Tim Boyle and see how the season goes. Either way, smart money is on the former Ram taking the snaps to start the year.

As a Goff apologist, this is fine to me. I think the two-time Pro Bowler deserves a chance to show what he can do, and if the Lions end up restructuring his contract then there is even more reason to see if he is worth building around in the short term. He might not be a superstar, but he is better than a lot of other options out there.

Today’s Question of the Day is:

What must Jared Goff do in 2021 to earn a second year at the helm?

My answer: The Lions are clearly not going for anything important this season, but that does not mean the games do not matter. The new regime is looking for a foundation to build around, and that all starts with the quarterback. Even with a subpar receiving corps (probably), the offensive line is an asset, as are D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson.

For Goff to earn a second year in charge, I think he needs to play like a top-16 quarterback. From a PFF perspective, he was 19th in passing last year, so this would be a small step up. If he does this, I think the Lions should feel comfortable enough to focus on other areas in both free agency and the 2022 draft. It may sound controversial, but I would much rather use draft capital on other positions if Goff can be at least average.

Your turn.