This is a question that was asked by many observers of the team as well as fans as they entered training camp back in July.

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Well, the way he's played for most of this season, Jared Goff (pictured) is making it very difficult for the Lions to cut him after this season.  He was terrific this past Sunday against Jacksonville at Ford Field.  He went 31-41 for 340 yards and two touchdowns.  And no turnovers, either.  And he's been a key in the Lions 4 wins in their last five games streak.

Other reasons to keep him beyond 2022:

HE'S AN ESTABLISHED NFL QUARTERBACK

Goff is now in his seventh season in the NFL after being the first overall draft pick (out of California) by the Los Angeles Rams in 2016.  He took the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018 and is a two-time Pro Bowler.  And he just turned 28 years old back in October.  So he's got plenty of career left (barring a major injury).

HE'S HAVING A VERY GOOD YEAR

He's thrown for 3,022 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.  He's completed just shy of 65% of his passes while being sacked 19 times.  That's pretty good.  Not elite, but pretty good.

HE'S UNDER CONTRACT FOR VERY GOOD MONEY

As mentioned before, he has two years left on his contract.  And his cap numbers for the next two years are, according to spotrac.com, pretty high.  So he's already getting close to elite QB money. Because of those numbers ($30.65 million in 2023, $31.65 million in 2024), he is unlikely to hold out for a new contract extension.

However, there are reasons not to keep him beyond 2022:

THEY SAVE BIG-TIME MONEY IF THEY RELEASE HIM

If the Lions cut him after this season, they save more than $20 million on the 2023 cap.  And they save more than $25 million on the 2024 cap.  The Lions could possibly use that money to spend on other positions of need.

WITH A HIGH DRAFT PICK, THE LIONS COULD DRAFT THEIR NEXT QB

Remember, the Lions get the Los Angeles Rams 1st round draft pick because of the Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade.  And with the defending Super Bowl champs having an awful season, the Lions look like they'll have a top-five pick in next spring's Draft.  They can use that to pick Alabama's Bryce Young or any other QB they believe can be a franchise player.

HE'S NOT A FRANCHISE QB

The Los Angeles Rams thought Goff was a franchise QB when they drafted him first overall seven years ago.  That didn't turn out the way the Rams hoped, which was the boost to the Stafford trade two years ago.  Even though he's played well this year, Jared Goff has been viewed as a stopgap until the Lions draft their next franchise QB (like they did with Stafford years ago).

What do you think the Lions should do?  Let us know in the comments!

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