Hendon Hooker was drafted in the third round by the Lions with the 68th overall pick 2023 NFL Draft. The former Tennessee quarterback was a Heisman Trophy hopeful in 2022 but his season was cut short after tearing his ACL in November. Prior to the injury, Hooker was playing incredibly well and helped lead the Volunteers to a 9-1 record, including an impressive win over Alabama, the school’s first since 2006.
In the days leading up to the first round, Hooker’s doctor sent a note to all 32 NFL teams indicating the quarterback was on a “fast recovery trajectory.” It’s unclear if he’ll be cleared to play in time for the start of the regular season but the 25-year-old rookie is vowing to make that happen.
Luckily for the Lions, they already have Jared Goff as their starting quarterback for 2023 but his contract is up in 2024 which may indicate the team is ready to transition to Hooker as their franchise quarterback in 2025.
