Along with the previously-reported deals for offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal and wide receiver Antoine Green, the Lions announced on Friday that they have signed quarterback Hendon Hooker to his four-year rookie contract. 
The Tennessee alum was one of the wild cards in this year’s draft class, given his productive time with the Volunteers. An ACL tear which ended his final college season, along with his age (25) were factors which worked against him at the draft, and they led to his slide down the board to No. 68 overall. It was at that point in the third round that the Lions selected him, leading to questions about starter Jared Goff‘s long-term prospects with the franchise.
In the immediate future, however, the latter (who was made aware of the Hooker selection in advance) is secure atop the QB depth chart. Hooker’s recovery from the ACL injury, along with his acclimation to the pro game in general (something of particular importance given the unique Tennessee scheme he is coming from) is expected to keep him sidelined for the 2023 campaign despite positive reports on the former front.
“Really, this is a redshirt year for him,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Hooker on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “He’s got to get this leg right first and then he’ll learn under Jared, and then let’s see what happens. If he can eventually become your two or maybe down the road, later on, it’s more than that, but it’s going to be a long time.”
Sitting out the first year of his rookie pact will make the age factor even more prominent in evaluations and expectations of Hooker, though Campbell recently stated that his age was not a detriment to the team’s willingness to draft him as a potential Goff successor. With the latter on the books for two more seasons, a patient approach could prove to be a fruitful one for Detroit.
The Lions are considering an extension for Goff, however, which could delay Hooker’s opportunity to ascend to the QB1 spot. Given the team’s success on offense in 2022 with Goff at the helm, a repeat performance this season could leave Detroit with an interesting decision to make under center with respect to their setup for 2024 and beyond. In any case, that season is the earliest in which appearances from Hooker can be expected.
wasted pick
Wrong. 3rd round pick to develop a QB is solid planning
you develop Qb’s at age 22,23,24. This dude will be 27 before he ever takes a single snap…. and that’s IF you can even develop him. Good planning is signing a guy like Mason Rudolph to backup.
I don’t think you watch any College football…
College doesn’t matter. Johnny Manziel won a heisman, look how that worked out in the NFL….
Nah, they will know what they have in both Goff and Hooker while still are both under contract… It’s a good way to decide which way to go in the future.
They know what they have in Goff… There were even reports they were going to extend him. Hooker will be 27 before they even think to give him a snap, waste of a pick.
They don’t know what it will cost to extend Goff. If he wants top 10 QB money then starting Hooker at 27 and letting Goff sign elsewhere should work fine. Hooker took over Tennessee and made it legit when their “QB friendly” offense was floundering with Joe Milton who was an elite athlete. He’ll be better than a career backup like Rudolph. Besides QBs easily last into their early ‘30s unless they like to pretend they’re RBs.
He’s not going to be better than Rudolph, because he’s not that talented, and he’s already in his prime years, injured at that.
Wasted comment.
Yours or the one you took time to comment on? Lol..
The one with no insight I took time to comment on. Fortunately, you’re not the Lions’ GM.
Fortunately, you keep commenting on something you claim was wasted. See the irony here? Catch you in 3 years when Hooker no more than a practice squad guy.
If Detroit had spent a first round pick on Hooker, that would’ve been a bad call. A third round pick for someone with that kind of talent, worth a shot. Even if Goff stays the starter long term, you have a viable back up at a great price for three seasons.
that’s a good perspective. if Goff continues playing the way he has, they can trade Hooker like the Patriots did with Jimmy G.
correct… qb’s get hurt too…
Literally this. If we took him in the first it would’ve been a horrible pick, and we’d get rightfully clowned on.
But even if he isn’t the starter in 2 years, we will have a backup who has played a lot of football, with at least 2 years of mentorship and has the talent and tools to at least be an upper echelon back up ala Case Keenum or Teddy.
For a 3rd round pick that’s not horrible.
The odds of draftees actually making the team is estimated at only about 35%, thus throwing a pick at this guy is pretty much a “nothing ventured, nothing gained” kind of situation.
The NFL is always changing. Having playmakers is a good place to start. Could they have selected pass rush depth instead? Yeah and probably should have but Hooker could be another Taysum Hill and coexist with Goff as an HB/QB/TE insurance policy
The NFL is notorious for resisting change. That is part of the reason they have been under pressure in recent years to hire more minorities. As far as the Lions are concerned, they haven’t seen any meaningful success since the mid 50s so they have nothing to lose by taking a flyer on Hooker.
The ‘91 team was one win away from the Super Bowl.
Going in to the 2022 draft numerous outlets screamed for the Lions to a.) trade for Baker Mayfield b.) draft Malik Willis.
Mayfield couldn’t stick with the Panthers last year and Willis was so sketchy the Titans traded up to get Levis in the 2023 draft.
The biggest tell will be if Hooker ends up on the roster as a backup or on the NFI list.