The Detroit Lions have made it clear that Jared Goff is their guy — especially after locking him in with a massive four-year, $212 million extension. But behind Goff, the backup QB race is far from settled. Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen are set to battle it out for the No. 2 spot, but if neither impresses during camp, the Lions might look outside the building for answers.
And according to CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, there’s one name worth watching: Will Levis.
Levis, the former second-round pick of the Titans, could be on the move after Tennessee used the No. 1 overall pick this year on Cam Ward. That pick pretty much shoved Levis down the depth chart — and possibly out the door. If the Titans decide to deal him after June 1, they’d save $1.6 million in cap space.
So why would the Lions even consider Levis? For one, he’s got real starting experience — more than both Hooker and Allen combined. He made 12 starts last year and while the results weren’t pretty (13 TDs, 12 INTs), his arm strength and toughness still give teams a reason to believe he could develop with the right coaching.
Plus, he’s still on a rookie deal through 2026 and carries a low cap hit. That kind of flexibility is always appealing.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. So far, Hooker and Allen haven’t given the coaching staff a reason to panic. The real evaluation will come in training camp. If both struggle, then maybe Detroit takes a flyer like the Packers did last year when they traded a seventh-rounder for Malik Willis.
Still, barring a meltdown from their current backups, this feels more like speculation than a likely move. For now, the Lions seem content to roll with what they’ve got behind Goff — and rightfully so.
