The Detroit Lions may have just found the perfect backup quarterback for Jared Goff heading into the new season.

The Detroit Lions are led by key figures such as head coach Dan Campbell, general manager Brad Holmes, and franchise quarterback Jared Goff. Last season, Goff managed to stay healthy, unlike several other NFL quarterbacks. From Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott to Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson, the list of injured quarterbacks during the 2024 season was long and concerning.

If Goff gets injured next season, Hendon Hooker is currently his primary backup. However, this could change.

According to NFL Network personality Tom Pelissero, the Las Vegas Raiders have informed quarterback Gardner Minshew that they will release him at the beginning of the new season. The 2025 NFL league year kicks off on Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m. Eastern time.

So, would Minshew be a good fit for the Detroit Lions? NFL expert Brad Berreman of SideLion Report believes it would be a wise move. In a feature published on March 5, Berreman argues that Minshew would be an “ideal option” for the Lions to replace Hooker.

Minshew brings plenty of experience to the table. In addition to his time with the Raiders, he has played for the Colts, Jaguars, and had two productive seasons as Jalen Hurts’ backup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Minshew is on the Ryan Fitzpatrick career track, which is a compliment,” Berreman says. “His next team will be his fifth in seven NFL seasons, and his fourth team in as many years.”

Minshew has played in 59 games over his career, with 46 starts and a 17-29 record. “He made 12 of those starts as a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, when ‘Minshew Mania’ became a phenomenon, and 13 more starts for the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 when he went to the Pro Bowl (regardless of how meaningful that may be),” Berreman adds.

Ultimately, Berreman believes Minshew could “bring valuable starting experience to any quarterback room, with time spent in multiple offensive systems.” He also suggests Minshew could “keep the Lions’ star-studded offense in good shape if something were to happen to Goff,” noting that the team may not believe Hooker is capable of doing the same.

Minshew is considered a sought-after player in free agency. In a March 5 article for Sports Illustrated, Mike McDaniel observes, “He will provide a veteran presence on the open market, able to start when needed and offer leadership to a young quarterback.”

So, Detroit might face competition to land him. In a separate March 5 article for Sports Illustrated, Drake Wally proposes the Colts bring him back, pointing out, “Why not bring in someone familiar?”

Wally adds, “If Indianapolis wants to bring Minshew back, it probably won’t be at the same one-year, $3.5 million deal he had in 2024, but it won’t be expensive given his rough campaign with the Raiders. It’s also understandable why Las Vegas released him, as they save about $3 million toward their 2025 cap.”