The Detroit Lions could make a critical choice about quarterback Hendon Hooker.
According to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic, Hooker was drafted last year with the expectation that he would eventually replace Jared Goff as a starter. That scenario now appears distant, as Goff led the Lions to the NFC Championship game and received a big contract deal.
Pouncy proposed another avenue for Hooker, a former Tennessee quarterback who has yet to play for the Lions.
Lions Use Promising Quarterback as Trade Bait
With Hooker’s future as a starter in significant doubt — at least in Detroit — Pouncy hinted that the Lions may deal the 26-year-old in the near future.
“The Lions drafted him to be a high-upside backup with starting potential if needed, but now that he’s blocked by Goff for the foreseeable future, could a trade down the road be the best way to maximize his value?” Pouncy wrote. “This is a fascinating discussion. Probably not for the 2024 season, but potentially later in his rookie deal.”
Pouncy isn’t the first to imply that the Lions might trade Hooker. Former NFL general manager Randy Mueller, writing for The Athletic in October 2023, advised that the Lions begin peddling Hooker to a quarterback-needy team.
Mueller stated that he had great expectations for Hooker coming out of college, implying that other clubs still have as well.
“Last year during my draft prep I saw a QB who, after a full evaluation, I felt was a possible NFL starter,” wrote Mueller. “Hendon Hooker from the University of Tennessee demonstrated arm talent, athleticism, processing ability, and NFL accuracy.” He threw with such timing and anticipation that I put him among my top five quarterbacks for the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Lions left little doubt about their quarterback’s future by signing Goff to a four-year, $212 million contract extension that includes a $170 million guarantee. The former No. 1 overall pick has helped lead a turnaround in Detroit, guiding the team to the NFC Championship game last season thanks in part to a strong passing offense.
Hendon Hooker Still Has Something to Prove
Hooker never got the chance to showcase his talent on the field, as he spent the bulk of the 2023 season recovering from a torn ACL that ended his last season at Tennessee. When Hooker returned to the active roster late in the season, he served as the team’s emergency quarterback for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
As Pouncy wrote, Hooker is entering a pivotal moment this offseason in which he will have the opportunity to prove himself on the field.
“In the meantime, these offseason practices are crucial for Hooker’s development,” Pouncy stated. “He didn’t have them a year ago when he was healing from a ruptured ACL.
Reporters never got to see him take reps against the defense in practice because of the in-season practice viewing limitations in place by the time he returned.”
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