Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker's future in the NFL suddenly doesn't look very promising
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker's first two seasons in the NFL haven't gone like the former Tennessee Vols standout was likely expecting. Hooker, who was limited as a rookie in 2023 after tearing his ACL near the end of his final season at Tennessee, served as the top backup to Lions quarterback Jared Goff during […]
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker's first two seasons in the NFL haven't gone like the former Tennessee Vols standout was likely expecting.
Hooker, who was limited as a rookie in 2023 after tearing his ACL near the end of his final season at Tennessee, served as the top backup to Lions quarterback Jared Goff during the 2024 regular season.
The former Vol wasn't needed often in 2024, playing in just three games during the regular season and attempting only nine passes.
Hooker was essentially demoted once the Lions reached the playoffs, falling to No. 3 on the depth chart after Detroit signed quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to serve as the top backup to Goff.
Bridgewater spent the 2024 season as a high school coach in Florida (he led Miami Northwestern to a state championship).
Goff briefly left the Lions' loss to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs on Saturday night after taking a hit to the head. It was Bridgewater who entered the game over Hooker, seemingly confirming that Detroit doesn't trust Hooker in a big spot.
It seems obvious at this point that Hooker doesn't have a bright future in Detroit. Hooker, a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, just turned 27 years old, yet the Lions clearly don't trust him after he has spent the last two seasons in their offense.
Maybe that changes in the next couple of years, but it's not exactly an ideal situation for the former Vol. Hooker will be 29 years old when he enters free agency in 2027. If he doesn't get a chance to play in regular season or post-season games for Detroit, it's going to be really tough for him to sell himself to a franchise.
Hooker, as we learned during his time at Tennessee, is a gamer. He's better under the bright lights than he is in practice (remember, he was beat out by Joe Milton to begin the 2021 season, before eventually taking a stronghold on the Tennessee starting quarterback job). Just because the Detroit staff doesn't trust Hooker doesn't mean he has no future in the NFL. I'm not saying we should expect Hooker to be a Pro-Bowler if he gets a shot to play, but I think we can assume that he's a better player than whatever he's showing in Detroit's practices.
Hooker is in a tough spot right now. He undoubtedly wants to play, but it doesn't look like he's ever going to get that chance in Detroit. Lions head coach Dan Campbell has said repeatedly that Detroit likes Hooker's potential, but the team's actions suggest otherwise.
It's time for Detroit to trade Hooker to a team that will give him a chance to at least be a legitimate backup quarterback. Because at this point, it feels like the Lions are holding Hooker's NFL career—and his future earnings—hostage.
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