When the Detroit Lions selected quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round (pick No. 68 overall) of the 2023 draft, they understood he would essentially have a redshirt rookie season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered late in his final college season at Tennessee.
Heading into last season, Hooker was considered the favorite to be the Lions’ No. 2 quarterback. However, a lingering finger injury from OTAs into training camp appeared to affect how quickly he overtook the underwhelming Nate Sudfeld in that competition.
Hooker got some playing time in the Lions’ dominant wins over the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars during the regular season. But with rumors linking the team to Daniel Jones and the late-December signing of Teddy Bridgewater, questions have arisen about whether Hooker has a future with the Lions.
Bridgewater was promoted to the No. 2 quarterback spot over Hooker for the playoff game against the Washington Commanders. It seems the Lions are preparing to find a new backup for Jared Goff if possible.
During an edition of “PFT Live” on Friday, NBC “Sunday Night Football” analyst Rodney Harrison suggested the New York Jets might be the most likely team to pursue a trade for Hooker.
“I’m gonna tell ya exactly what I’m gonna do,” Harrison said. “I’m gonna call Detroit and say, ‘Hey, I’m very interested in Hendon Hooker, your backup quarterback.’ He’s healthy, was a Heisman candidate before his injury at Tennessee, and I think he’s got a lot of potential. I’ve seen him play; he’s big, smart, and mature. I’d trade for him. Watch out for this kid.”
Do the Lions have a hidden plan for Hendon Hooker?
Florio also mentioned that Bridgewater had been signed off the street and jumped over Hooker for the No. 2 role in the playoff game, which raises concerns.
Harrison continued his strong praise of Hooker. “You know, Mike, I thought Hendon would get his shot,” Harrison said. “Then I thought, maybe they don’t want the rest of the league to see how good he really is.”
Harrison seems to overlook that Hooker’s “opportunity” for the playoff game was mainly to be in uniform, and he would have played only if Jared Goff had been injured or in a blowout win. Goff briefly left the game for a concussion protocol, and Bridgewater took one series, which ended quickly with Jameson Williams’ 61-yard touchdown run.
Florio suggested that if the Jets want Hooker and the Lions refuse to trade him, it could indicate they believe in his potential and aren’t ready to let him go.
Florio cited an instance from 2006 when Sean Payton tried to trade for Tony Romo when he became the New Orleans Saints’ coach. Romo would go on to start for the Cowboys the following season. If the Jets, or any other team, inquire about Hooker and the Lions decline, Florio speculated it might be because they see him as a future starter, potentially replacing Jared Goff.
Harrison partially agreed with the idea of Hooker eventually taking over for Goff, suggesting that playing Hooker might raise questions about why the Lions paid Goff the amount they did.
In conclusion, with Harrison’s belief that Hooker could be a hidden gem, there’s speculation about the Lions having a plan for him as a future starter. But at 27 years old, time is running out. If the Lions don’t plan to use him, they should be open to trade offers.