Lions decide Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker in third spherical of NFL draft
Hendon Hooker stated he’s on monitor to be prepared for the beginning of this NFL season, however the Lions probably are pondering extra about 2024.
The Lions chosen Hooker — who’s recovering shortly from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered in November and expects to be absolutely cleared for motion by Sept. 1 — within the third spherical (No. 68 total) of the NFL draft on Friday night time and arrange a possible quarterback succession plan to Jared Goff.
The one different quarterback on the Detroit depth chart is Nate Sudfeld, so Hooker can slide in because the rookie No. 2 and maybe take over as quickly because the 2024 season when there is no such thing as a assured cash remaining on Goff’s contract.
“First I wish to heal, and are available and be a sponge from anybody,” Hooker stated on ABC.
Hooker wasn’t about to push Goff — who resurrected his once-flailing profession as a Professional Bowler in main the Lions to a 9-8 report this previous season — out the door.
Goff was the No. 1 total decide in 2015 and led the Rams to Tremendous Bowl LIII, wherein they misplaced to the Patriots in February 2019, however he was traded to the Lions for Matthew Stafford earlier than the 2021 season.
“He’s been within the league for a very long time,” Hooker advised native reporters of Goff, “and he’s been doing an amazing job of growing yearly … and that’s all you’ll be able to ask for. I’m positively going to be selecting his mind.”
In a well-timed Twitter video, Hooker revealed on the eve of the draft that he had progressed in his restoration to training dropbacks and stated “it feels nice to maneuver round once more.”
That technique didn’t cease him from falling out of the primary spherical and being the fifth quarterback taken total.
“I haven’t had any ache,” Hooker stated after his choice.
The Lions traded down from No. 55 to No. 63 after which once more to No. 68, the place Hooker was nonetheless obtainable.
He visited the staff facility earlier than the draft, however was the fifth participant drafted by Detroit over a busy two days.
Moreover his well being, the opposite knocks on Hooker are that he already is 25 years outdated, after spending three seasons at Virginia Tech and two at Tennessee, and that the unfold offense he executed in faculty doesn’t translate to the NFL.
On the flip facet, he displayed crisp accuracy by finishing 68.8 p.c of his passes and throwing for 58 touchdowns in comparison with simply 5 interceptions within the SEC. He was the convention’s 2022 Offensive Participant of the Yr.
Hooker’s father, Alan, and Lions common supervisor Brad Holmes each performed at North Carolina A&T, the place Hooker’s brother additionally performs.