Derrick Barnes makes a compelling case for Jared Goff as NFL MVP this season
Since 2021, the Detroit Lions have been led by Jared Goff, and given the importance of quarterback play around the NFL, that's a fact that has worked to their advantage in a big way.
While Goff was cast out of Los Angeles, he has flourished with the Lions. Now, Goff has played in more games with Detroit than he did with the Rams, and has made a home in the Motor City given he led the franchise to a pair of division titles and two playoff wins since.
In the locker room, Goff is popular and his teammates realize the talent he has. Linebacker Derrick Barnes started his Detroit career with Goff, and doesn't understand why he doesn't get more love for what he does.
Joining "Up and Adams" with Kay Adams, Barnes was asked to make his case for Goff as an MVP this year. As he explained, he is still mystified with the hate the quarterback receives on the internet given all his strengths.
"I try to stay off the internet, Twitter, things like that. But some things pop up on my feed about (Jared) Goff and I'm like 'Do people know football? Do people know what this man has done? How many records he holds?' He had a perfect game last year. I haven't seen it in five years in the NFL. People want to say 'Oh he has this player and that player.' He runs the show."
As Barnes explained, it's more than just Goff's abilities which makes him a favorite for the award, but everything else he brings to the table for the franchise.
"Goff is extremely smart. He's a great leader. In the building, coaches ask him for advice because he's that dude. If I was on the other team, I'm a competitor so I wouldn't say worried, but I'd be worried playing against Goff because he creates. I ain't saying he's the fastest guy (and) he ain't the slowest guy, but you have a quarterback who creates in the pocket. You get out of the pocket, he can run a bit. He's got a couple first-downs, so I give it to him. He's been working on it, I can tell. He's a smart player. He knows where to put the ball. He knows how to make the right checks."
The type of player Barnes is describing is the whole package. Most Lions fans understand that Goff deserves to be in the MVP conversation if not a potential dark horse pick for the award, but it's likely going to take major heroics for that this season.
Goff likely needs a huge statistical second-half to contend for MVP
Barnes makes excellent points about Goff's viability as an MVP candidate, but the fact is, playing in Detroit will always hurt his case. Not since the days of Barry Sanders have the Lions had a bonafide MVP, and Sanders was impossible to ignore as the best running back in football.
Statistically, Goff runs too hot and cold to be considered for a popularity contest award such as league MVP. As much as he wins, it isn't always about winning, but rather the 'wow factor' a player brings. Unfortunately, Goff doesn't make the same jaw-dropping plays as Josh Allen. One week, he can have two touchdowns and an interception while the next he throws for five scores.
The lack of flash means the Lions not only have to win big, but see Goff have a fantastic run of numbers throwing the ball. He's going to need to have multiple games where he accounts for multiple touchdowns in order to be in that conversation. Detroit's offense may be more tailored to success on the ground, which means there could be days the running backs do more than Goff.
Still, as Barnes understands, the Lions are better for having Goff on the team. Whether he ever becomes league MVP, he's still Detroit's MVP hands down.
Kellen Moore names Tyler Shough the Saints' new starting quarterback and naturally starts a running clock on his future with the franchise
Kellen Moore has plenty of massive choices and decisions to make for the New Orleans Saints in the coming months. The NFL trade deadline looms, and he has a roster that is currently sitting at 1-7 in the basement of the NFC South.
Alongside those issues, the young offensive guru head coach is making a notable change to his starting lineup. Enter: rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
Tyler Shough named starting QB for the Saints amid Spencer Rattler's struggles
Spencer Rattler simply was not getting the job done in recent weeks for New Orleans. Now, his head coach has made a change, opening the door for Tyler Shough to start at quarterback for the Saints. Shough will assuredly be guaranteed some time to work out some rough edges as a first-year QB in the pros. Kellen Moore assured the media on Monday that he wasn't interested in flipping back and forth between Shough and Rattler.
With this key decision, the pressure is officially a bit different for Moore, and he is surely hoping that his players step up for him over the remainder of this season.
Shough's performance may dictate what the Saints do in round one of 2026 NFL Draft
With the starts, the rookie QB will subliminally place a bit of pressure on his head coach. If he finds early success and is able to help New Orleans unexpectedly win games down the stretch, then Moore could look at positions outside of quarterback early in next year's draft.
On the flip-side, massive struggles or clear limitations rearing their head for Shough would push Moore to look at QB - considering the Saints would probably hold a top 3-5 selection in round one. It's an incredibly tough business and reality for Shough when you consider it all.
The young QB may show glimpses of impressive play - but so did Rattler. Rattler ended up winning 1 of 14 games he started and led an offense that ranked 30th in yards per play and 29th in points per game from the time he became the starter for New Orleans. Simply put, the line had to be drawn, and that time may come with Shough only getting about half a season of opportunities to show his starting prowess.
No matter what - this decision by Moore truly starts his clock when it comes to earning trust with fans and keeping his job in the long-term. While Shough wasn't a first-round QB selection, Moore and his staff (alongside the front office) did spend the 40th overall selection on him in the 2025 NFL Draft. That's not cheap. With the state of the Saints roster, that was a legitimate price to pay for a QB with plenty of questions and concerns as a prospect.
Only time will tel how this works out for Moore and the Saints. Regardless, it gives the fans something to look forward to in the coming weeks and a rookie leader for veterans to try to rally around for now.
