After trading down with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos, the Detroit Lions selected Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker.
General Manager Brad Holmes admitted he misplayed the backup quarterback situation and would rectify the situation. It got off to a rocky start, only resigning Nate Sudfuled this offseason, but it looks like Holmes had an ace up his sleeve with Hooker, who could be a solid backup to Jared Goff and possibly compete in the future.
Hooker started as a backup quarterback in high school, and the quarterback he sat behind was current Lions CB Emmanuel Moseley. As a senior, he earned MVP honors during the state championship game after recording six touchdowns and finished his high school career with 103 total touchdowns. He also recorded over 1,000 points as a letterman in basketball in high school.
Hooker had a rocky start to his collegiate career at Virginia Tech but was able to get things going after a transfer to Tennessee. He would go on to throw 58 touchdowns to only five interceptions while adding another 1,050 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns. He is a highly efficient passer completing no less than 68% of his passes as a Volunteer. Along with his strong instincts, he has the athleticism to bring it all together to make a strong dual-threat quarterback. In addition, he has a worker’s mindset and ethic that makes it easy for coaches to love.
Unfortunately for Hooker, he has a couple of situations that some might consider red flags. First, he is already 25 making him one of the older prospects, and he is recovering from an ACL injury. Typically, that is not a good combination. Thankfully, he is on the road to recovery and looks to be progressing well. On the other front, Tennessee’s offense was simplified and tailored to Hooker, making his life simple, not having to progress through routes very often.
The Lions needed to address the backup quarterback situation. They couldn’t do any better than grabbing a quarterback with strong character, work ethic, and athleticism that can make defenses stay honest. Sure, there are some issues, but he fell in the right situation in Detroit where he won’t be asked to start, where he can be a sponge to Jared Goff and adapt to the NFL. Hooker is another one of those players who fits well with Detroit’s culture with his toughness and no-quit attitude that will make him an instant fit for the Lions.
Grade: B+
