By Blessing 
Does Hendon Hooker Have a Future with the Detroit Lions… or a Hidden Role?
When the Detroit Lions selected quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft (No. 68 overall), they understood he wouldn’t contribute immediately. Coming off a torn ACL suffered late in his final season at Tennessee, the plan was always for Hooker to redshirt his rookie year while recovering.
As the 2023 season approached, many assumed Hooker would eventually slide into the No. 2 quarterback role behind Jared Goff. However, a lingering finger injury sustained during OTAs and training camp slowed his progress, allowing Nate Sudfeld—an uninspiring option—to remain ahead of him on the depth chart longer than expected.
Hooker did manage to see limited action in garbage time during Detroit’s blowout wins over the Cowboys, Titans, and Jaguars. Yet, as the season progressed, speculation arose regarding Detroit’s backup quarterback situation. Rumors swirled that the Lions had considered bringing in Daniel Jones, and in late December, they signed veteran Teddy Bridgewater. Given these moves, it’s fair to question whether Hooker truly has a future in Detroit.
When the Lions entered the playoffs, they promoted Bridgewater to the No. 2 spot over Hooker for their Wild Card game against Washington. This decision seemed to confirm Detroit’s desire to upgrade the backup quarterback position.
Rodney Harrison Sees Hooker as a Trade Target
During an episode of PFT Live, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and Sunday Night Football analyst Rodney Harrison discussed Hooker’s potential and whether the New York Jets should pursue a trade for him.
“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, he was a Heisman guy until he got hurt at the University of Tennessee. I think this young man, I got a chance to see him often, he’s big, he’s smart, he’s an older guy because he spent a lot of time in college… he’s very mature. But I would trade for Hendon Hooker. Watch out for that name.”
Could Detroit Be Hiding Their True Intentions?
Florio took things a step further, noting how Bridgewater was brought in late, given a backup role, and ultimately elevated over Hooker in the playoffs. He questioned whether Detroit might actually be keeping Hooker under wraps.
Harrison echoed this sentiment, expressing frustration that Hooker hadn’t received an opportunity.
“You know, Mike, I was thinkin’ about that because I was very frustrated because I thought Hendon would get his opportunity,” Harrison said. “Then I started thinkin’, ‘This kid is a really good player. Maybe they don’t want the rest of the league to see this kid play and see how good this kid is.'”
However, it’s worth noting that Hooker’s “opportunity” in the playoffs would have simply been dressing for the game, just as he had all season. He was unlikely to see the field unless Goff got injured or the game became a blowout. In fact, Goff briefly exited the Wild Card matchup against Washington due to concussion protocol, but Bridgewater stepped in and handed the ball off before Jameson Williams broke off a 61-yard touchdown run.
A Hidden Plan or Just Another Backup?
Florio drew a comparison to a situation from 2006, when Sean Payton, upon taking over as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, attempted to trade for Tony Romo. The Cowboys refused, and a year later, Romo took over as their starting quarterback. Could Detroit be following a similar blueprint?
“If it plays out that the Jets want Hooker, or anyone else wants him for that matter, and the Lions don’t let him go,” Florio speculated, “then they might believe they have something and ‘aren’t ready to deploy it.’”
Harrison didn’t dismiss the idea that Hooker could be Detroit’s eventual successor to Goff, though he acknowledged that such a move would raise questions about the team’s financial commitment to Goff.
Time is Ticking
While Harrison believes Hooker has the potential to be a solid NFL starter, there’s an elephant in the room—his age. At 27 years old, he’s older than many young quarterbacks who have already established themselves in the league. If the Lions do have a long-term plan for him, they can’t afford to wait much longer.
Ultimately, if Detroit doesn’t see Hooker as a future starter, they should be open to trade offers. The speculation surrounding him only grows as teams like the Jets continue searching for quarterback solutions. Whether the Lions are keeping him under wraps for a future role or simply don’t see him as their guy, one thing is clear—Hooker’s time in Detroit is at a crossroads.