Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: QBs

This is the first in a series of roster analysis by position group for the 2026 offseason leading up to Free Agency and the NFL draft.  Today’s focus will be on the QB room and what Brad Holmes intends to do for a backup and long-term replacement for Jared Goff.

QBs

Under Contract:

• Jared Goff

Free Agents:

• Kyle Allen – UFA, CJ Beathard – UFA (PS)

Lions QBs Goff and Allen by MSN

Analysis:

The Lions will need another QB or two for 2026 season, as both the primary backup to Goff (Kyle Allen) and the PS emergency guy (CJ Beathard) are currently Free Agents.  Allen appears to be a good fit as a backup, as he is an experienced player, has played decently at points in his career and now fully understands the system. In eight seasons, he has 19 starts and a career passer rating of 82.1% and Comp% of 62.5% and TD/INTs of 26/21.  CJ Beathard was brought on to the Lions Practice Squad after they mercifully ended the Hendon Hooker experiment at final roster cutdown day.  His career stats aren’t that far off from Allen’s, but he is two years older and has slightly less playing time under his belt.

Options:

The most likely scenario will be to re-sign Kyle Allen if they cannot find a better option and then either draft a developmental guy or try to pluck one off the waiver wire at the end of camp.  They also could sign two FA QBs and let them battle it out behind Goff with the best man getting the job and the other potentially be added to the PS as a veteran addition.  The Lions won't be investing top dollar, so out of the current 28 UFA guys, about half will be looking for over $2M a year and likely out of the Lions Price range.

• FAs: Kyle Allen, CJ Beathard, Teddy Bridgewater, Gardner Minshew, Brandon Allen, Trey Lance

• Draft Pick: Drew Allar, Sawyer Robinson, Haynes King, Tyler Van Dyke

Bottom Line:

I think the Lions will look to “try” an upgrade in Free Agency at the backup QB slot and possibly steal someone that slips through the waiver wire at the end of camp to become a developmental guy. The problem is the FA class will be pricy or crappy, so that will limit the options initially. As far as the draft, any draft assets that are available need to be directed at Edge, OL, LB or DBs before thinking of using a pick on a QB, but if they did it likely wouldn’t be before the 4^th rounder (no 118) or 5^th (no. 155) and for a clear developmental guy. At the end of the day, I think Kyle Allen will back up Goff one more year.