By Blessing 
Lions Trade Hendon Hooker to Saints After Derek Carr Injury Shakes Up QB Market
Once the initial buzz of NFL free agency fades, the league tends to quiet down until draft night. That’s why last Friday’s news sent shockwaves through the football world—especially with the draft just around the corner. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is now dealing with a shoulder injury that could sideline him for the entire 2025 season.
With Carr’s future up in the air, the Saints suddenly find themselves in scramble mode, hunting for a quarterback in a market with limited options. Naturally, many fans jumped to the idea of New Orleans drafting Shedeur Sanders, but with the ninth overall pick, there’s no guarantee he’ll still be on the board.
Luckily for the Saints, another opportunity may be presenting itself.
Lions Move On from Hendon Hooker in Hypothetical Trade
In a projected deal that could benefit both teams, the Detroit Lions would send quarterback Hendon Hooker and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Saints. In exchange, they’d receive the 93rd overall pick in the 2025 draft and a 2026 fifth-rounder. It’s a trade that signals the Lions might be ready to move forward without Hooker.
When Detroit selected Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, many believed he could be groomed to eventually take over for Jared Goff. Although Hooker was recovering from a torn ACL at the time, his college career at Tennessee gave plenty of reason for optimism.
Over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Hooker completed 68% of his passes (435-for-632) for 6,080 yards, throwing 58 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Impressive numbers, even if he entered the league as an older rookie at 25.
Now 27, Hooker made his NFL debut in the 2024 preseason. Across three appearances, he completed 65% of his passes for 300 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Respectable, but not exactly eye-popping.
This offseason, the Lions added veteran Kyle Allen to the mix, creating a legitimate competition at backup quarterback. Given Allen’s experience, Hooker’s path to a roster spot in Detroit just got a lot tougher.
From the Lions’ perspective, getting something in return now makes more sense than keeping Hooker buried on the depth chart. For the Saints, it’s a low-risk move that could help them avoid having to start Spencer Rattler again. Rattler struggled last season, going 0-6 as a starter and completing just 57% of his passes for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns, and five picks.
There’s no guarantee Hooker becomes the answer for New Orleans—but if this trade happens, it could be a calculated gamble worth taking.