Who knows what would have happened had Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker not torn his ACL in November against South Carolina? Perhaps the former Vols QB prospect would have been a first-round pick, as pre-draft speculation hinted at.
Instead, the first round came and went, with all 31 picks being announced, yet Hooker didn’t hear his name called by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Heading into Day 2, Hooker was viewed as one of the best players available among a talented crop of prospects.
The Detroit Lions ended the suspense by selecting Hooker with the 68th overall pick. Or the fifth pick in the third round. The Lions actually traded up to secure Hooker, who now is their fifth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He’s set to backup Jared Goff, where Hooker can sit and learn for at least a season as he rehabs his left knee. Goff’s contract is up after the 2024 season.
While Hooker does have his drawbacks (already 25 years old), he also comes with a lot of upside. From a production standpoint, Hooker was one of the best college football quarterbacks in the nation over the past two seasons at Tennessee.
He has the size (6-foot-3), mobility, and plenty of arm talent. Hooker showed a great amount of growth at Tennessee, and the hope is there’s still more to come in the NFL.
All the talk will be about where Hooker was drafted, but his story truly begins once he gets on the field, when the dual-threat gets his first chance to lead the Lions down the field.
Since he suffered his ACL tear so late in the season, there’s been a belief that Hooker will miss a large portion of his rookie year, but that may not be the case. According to Hooker, he’ll be cleared to play by Week 1. The Lions are hoping they won’t have to rely on Hooker that early in the season, but his availability could impact roster decisions on cutdown day.