Detroit Lions reveal the QB plan for Hendon Hooker in 2023
If you're a Tennessee Vols fan that's hoping to see Hendon Hooker in action for the Detroit Lions in 2023, you might not want to get your hopes up. That's not to say Hooker, a third-round pick by the Lions in this year's draft, won't see the field at all in 2023. But the hope […]
If you're a Tennessee Vols fan that's hoping to see Hendon Hooker in action for the Detroit Lions in 2023, you might not want to get your hopes up.
That's not to say Hooker, a third-round pick by the Lions in this year's draft, won't see the field at all in 2023. But the hope for Detroit is that he can develop as a rookie before competing for the starting job in 2024.
The Lions wanted to add some talent to their quarterback room via this year's draft — especially since Jared Goff is a free agent after the 2024 season (Detroit could also move on from him after the 2023 season and face a manageable $5 million deadcap hit).
At the same time, the Lions didn't want to draft a quarterback early and create a "quarterback controversy". That's why taking Hooker, who is recovering from a torn ACL, made so much sense for Detroit.
"He's a good person, he's smart, he's very talented, he's had a unique journey and he's overcame," said Lions general manager Brad Holmes on Friday night. "So, he just has to get healthy. I believe we have the right situation for him, where he can just sit back, develop, get healthy. We're excited about his upside."
In Hooker, the Lions are getting a smart and mature player with a ton of upside that won't be rushed into action. It's an ideal situation for a quarterback coming out of college.
Oftentimes, rookie quarterbacks are forced into action too soon, which ultimately stunts their development. That won't be the case with Hooker. While there's a chance that Hooker ends up seeing significant action by the end of the season, the plan, for now, is for the former Vol to learn as much as he can about running an NFL offense before being handed the reins.
