Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. Today’s installment covers:
- An honest assessment of Justin Herbert.
But first, a look at one quarterback who deserves a lot more love …
It is rare for a former No. 1 overall pick to be underrated, but that has become the case with Jared Goff. In fact, I think he’s the most underrated quarterback in the game today. While the football world and NFL scouting community continue to search for the next megastar with the breathtaking playmaking talents of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, Goff has emerged as a true franchise QB who shreds defenses from the pocket.
By any metric, Goff has become the elite quarterback that he was expected to be when he was selected with the top pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. The 11th-year pro has compiled a 90-60-1 record while completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 39,622 yards (averaging 262.4 per game), with 256 touchdowns against 102 interceptions. Most importantly, he has transformed one of the league’s most downtrodden franchises — Detroit had one playoff win from 1958 through 2023 — into a contender.
Although Goff’s detractors will suggest that he has benefited from playing for some of the brightest offensive minds in football — while also being flanked by some of the game’s best playmakers and pass protectors — Goff deserves great acclaim for helping the X’s and O’s come to life with his accuracy and decision-making.
As a young scout with the Seattle Seahawks, I worked under Mike Holmgren while he served as the franchise’s executive vice president of football operations, general manager and head coach. During that time, I frequently heard the Super Bowl champion and quarterback guru discuss the importance of ball placement and judgment at the position. He drew that insight from his experiences in working with Joe Montana and Steve Young on the San Francisco 49ers, while also citing Brett Favre’s growth to become a back-to-back-to-back MVP during their time together with the Green Bay Packers.
While Goff’s talent does not jump off the screen like the electric dual-threat quarterbacks who have taken the NFL by storm, the veteran’s numbers don’t lie. Since 2022, he has started every game while comfortably leading the league in passing yards (18,206) and passing touchdowns (130). During that span, Goff also ranks top five in QB wins (45, T-third), completion percentage (68.1, fifth), yards per attempt (7.9, T-fifth) and passer rating (103.4, third). Operating like a pass-first point guard from the pocket, Goff has become a model of consistency at the position. It’s quite an impressive development, considering many folks initially viewed him as something of a toss-in alongside the immense draft capital the Lions received from the Rams in the Matthew Stafford trade.
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