As the NFL playoffs continue to unfold, Detroit Lions fans have a lot to be excited about. Four quarterbacks remain in the running for the conference championships, and all of them are pocket passers. Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Brock Purdy all have something else in common: they know how to lead their teams to victory without turning the ball over.

Many skeptics are hoping that the Lions will make a move for a “franchise quarterback” with one of their first round picks in the upcoming draft. The Lions currently have the 6th pick and the 18th pick, but I’d advise them not to use one of the picks on a quarterback. Instead, the Lions should dangle those assets in front of another team willing to trade up for a quarterback, and commit to Jared Goff.

Let’s take a look at the 4 remaining quarterbacks in the NFL Playoffs:

Patrick Mahomnes – QB, 27, Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs sets the bar, and remains the most valuable quarterback in the NFL playoffs. Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid have ensured that the AFC Championship will be played in Arrowhead Stadium for a fifth straight season, extending the Chiefs’ own Super Bowl era record of four straight home conference championship games. Prior to drafting Mahomes, Kansas City had never hosted an AFC Championship Game. Mahomes has the highest completion percentage (70.0), pass touchdown-interception ratio (11-0) and passer rating (113.8) in the Divisional Round in postseason history. He is a prototypical pocket passer, with enough athleticism to to be spontaneous and make a difference when plays break down.

Joe Burrow – QB, 26, Cincinnati Bengals

Another quarterback that has quickly rose to the top of the NFL is Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals. Burrow has beaten Mahomes three times in as many tries, making him and Tom Brady the only quarterbacks to hand Mahomes that many losses. Burrow has won his fifth career playoff game, tied with the Bengals’ franchise total prior to his arrival. The total also trails only Russell Wilson (6) for the most by a player in his first three career seasons.  This past weekend, he drew comparisons from the TV announcers to Peyton Manning when discussing how he processes defenses at the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t get the name “Joe Cool” for nothing, he is as calm as any QB in the league under pressure.

Jalen Hurts – QB, 24, Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles also impresses. You may argue that Hurts isn’t a prototypical pocket passer, but I’d argue the contrary. He’s easily the best athlete on this list, however, he doesn’t use his legs as his primary weapon. Jalen Hurts is a pass-first quarterback in an offense built on distributing the ball to AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. He just happens to also take advantage of the defense when plays break down and his team needs him to scramble. The Eagles put the Giants down early in their 38-7 win over their NFC East foe. The 31-point win was the largest playoff win over a divisional opponent since the 1970 NFL-AFL Merger. Hurts rushed for his 14th touchdown of the season, including playoffs, tying Cam Newton (2011) for the most by a QB in a single season all-time.

Brock Purdy – QB, 24, San Francisco 49ers

Finally, there is Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers’ win over the Cowboys was their 12th straight, the franchise’s longest since it won the final nine games of the 1984 regular season before winning three playoff games including Super Bowl XIX over the Dolphins. It’s the team’s second straight trip to the NFC Championship Game. Brock Purdy has played in seven NFL games and has yet to be defeated. He is surrounded by weapons and a terrifying defense, but Mr. Irrelevant takes care of the ball. I’d argue that the 49ers are not in the position they are in today if they had Dak Prescott as their starting quarterback.

Jared Goff – QB, 28, Detroit Lions

Goff earned a great deal of respect and confidence from Lions fans this season. Although his 2021 performance was average, he was among the league’s best this past season, ranking fifth in QBR with a score of 61.2. He also threw for 4,438 yards (sixth in the league) and 29 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions.

Goff was in complete control of the offense throughout the season. He led the top-ranked offense in the division and the fifth-best offense in the entire league, averaging nearly 27 points per game. This is a reflection of his skill and leadership as a quarterback. Most importantly, he took care of the ball!

This year, Goff needed to prove himself in order to demonstrate that he is a long-term asset to the league. He not only met these expectations but exceeded them, proving himself as a top quarterback in the league. With his strong performance this season, Goff has solidified his position as the Lions’ quarterback for the future. This year, he will have the same offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the first time in his career, which should help him to continue to develop and improve as a quarterback.

Lions already have their QB

The Detroit Lions have a talented quarterback in Jared Goff, who has demonstrated his ability to lead the team to success. He has the potential to make quick decisions, throw accurate passes, and guide his team to victory. The Lions’ fans can look forward to watching Goff lead their team to the NFL playoffs in the years to come. However, every team needs a solid backup quarterback, and the Lions are no exception. With the NFL draft coming up, and free agency, it will be interesting to see who the Lions will scoop up as Goff’s backup quarterback. Will they opt for a young, promising quarterback or an experienced veteran?

Syndication: Detroit Free Press

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