​Quarterback Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions has long been a focal point of debate when fans and analysts discuss where he fits among the NFL’s elite signal-callers. In a recent piece, CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo offers a fresh perspective on Goff’s place by using quarterback tiers instead of traditional rankings. Rather than forcing a linear order, DeArdo groups quarterbacks by their ceiling and potential, placing Goff in the borderline stars tier.
Goff is the kind of quarterback who can ride a string of near-elite performances. In a five-week window, he can be on pace for MVP consideration, delivering the sort of play that makes fans and analysts sit up and take notice. Yet, there are also periods of five weeks where his performance dips enough that some observers call for benching or question his overall baseline. That oscillation—high highs followed by lower stretches—helps explain why he fits best in this middle ground: the borderline stars tier.
In this tier, five quarterbacks sit above Goff. Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow are the five players whom teams would covet if they had the chance. DeArdo places them in what he describes as the transcendent star category, a small group with a clear elite distinction. While there might be minor quibbles about their exact ranking within that upper echelon, the consensus is that these players stand apart from the rest.
But the more intriguing group is the larger cohort of “borderline stars.” This tier includes twelve quarterbacks, a sizable slice of the NFL’s starter landscape—more than a third of teams. It’s a fair reflection of the reality that any one of these players can, on a good day, look like a top-ten or even a top-five quarterback. They have all generated MVP buzz at various points, yet none has secured enough sustained achievement or a long-enough track record to be firmly established among the game’s absolute elites.
Among the names listed in the borderline stars tier are Jalen Hurts, Sam Darnold, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Drake Maye, Trevor Lawrence, and Jared Goff. For most fans and NFL observers, each of these players has the talent to ascend to the upper echelon on certain Sundays or over a season, yet inconsistency or a lack of a long, proven track record keeps them from a definitive top-ten classification. The range of outcomes for this group is broad; on any given day, they can demonstrate flashes of excellence that make them appear, in retrospect, as if they could be among the league’s best.
From Lions fans’ perspective, seeing Goff positioned as high as sixth on the overall quarterback ladder is undeniably satisfying. It confirms that his play is recognized as more than just adequate and acknowledges the strides he has made in Detroit. At the same time, there is a twinge of disappointment knowing that Matthew Stafford sits in a tier that’s clearly ahead of him, awarded the MVP-level praise and the dramatic highlights that accompany his own performances in recent seasons. It’s a bittersweet reminder of how the Lions’ decision to move Stafford and acquire Goff has unfolded in the public eye.
Detroit’s situation extends beyond Goff: the Lions acquired more than just a quarterback with that trade, and their current standing in the NFL’s hierarchy reflects a broader evaluation of the club’s talent, coaching, and potential. Stafford’s success, highlighted by a Super Bowl win and an MVP trophy with the Rams, colors the conversation around the Lions’ trade and the team’s expectations. For long-time Lions supporters, the juxtaposition of Goff’s solid status with Stafford’s historic accolades presents a complex mix of pride and nostalgia—an emotional balance that’s difficult to ignore.
For readers and fans who follow football closely, the dynamic remains compelling. Goff’s placement in the borderline stars tier acknowledges both his high-ceiling moments and his more uncertain stretches, painting a nuanced portrait rather than a simple label of “good” or “great.” It’s a reminder that the quarterback position in today’s NFL often hinges on inconsistency as much as on talent, and that a single season can tilt a player’s standing in the eyes of analysts and fans alike. As the Lions continue to build around him, the expectation is that Goff can sustain the peak performances that keep him in that upper-middle tier, while limiting the below-average dips that threaten to cap his overall impact.