The Detroit Lions have built a team that looks ready to continue being a force in the NFC, but they could be in the market to trade one of their players away.
After investing a 2023 third-round draft pick on a player who was unable to play during his rookie campaign due to a torn ACL, the Lions may consider trading quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder speculated making a trade and cashing in on the high upside that Hooker has compared to letting him sit on the bench behind Jared Goff, who Detroit extended this offseason.
“The Detroit Lions gave Jared Goff a contract extension offer this offseason, which pretty much ensures Hooker will be a backup throughout his rookie deal. Trading last year’s third-round pick to a QB-needy team sooner rather than later would allow the front office to maximize its return for him.”
This would be interesting, as teams could never feel too comfortable with their quarterback situation. Moving Hooker could land some valuable assets for the Lions going into the future.
Which teams would likely be interested in Hendon Hooker?
Hooker showcased his abilities heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. In his final season with the Tennessee Volunteers in 2022, he had been one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
That year, Hooker finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting as he went 229-of-339 (69.6%) for 3,135 yards with 27 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions.
There are some teams who are going to be intrigued by the possibility of adding Hooker.
One club that makes a lot of sense would be the Chicago Bears. It is difficult to trade a young player that can make an impact to a divisional rival, but he would make a better backup quarterback to Caleb Williams than Tyson Bagent or Brett Rypien, especially on a team that is ready to take that next step.
Another team that should be looking to trade pieces for Hooker is the Miami Dolphins.
With Tua Tagovailoa on his fifth-year option and a long-term contract not guaranteed in the near future, this gives the Dolphins a future beyond him as leverage. It certainly beats having a team with Super Bowl aspirations being led by Mike White if Tagovailoa goes down to injury.
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