If you're willing to read tea leaves, for months they have said the Detroit Lions would like to replace Hendon Hooker as their No. 2 quarterback if they could. Signing Kyle Allen in free agency further proved it, but it's also no surprise Hooker will have to win the job in a way he simply wasn't forced to last year.
The idea the Lions would use a late draft pick, or sign a notable undrafted rookie, confirmed the shaky ground Hooker was on. They ultimately did neither, which may be a sign things are turning positive for the 2023 third-round pick.
In deference to the experience edge he had over Hooker as the playoffs neared, Lions head coach Dan Campbell explained the addition of Teddy Bridgewater late last season. So if they were to pursue an addition at quarterback, someone who has starting experience looks like a prerequisite.
But even with the idea of possible another quarterback with experience, there are logical limits.
Analyst offers Lions the lamest Hendon Hooker replacement option possible
On his list of 10 moves that should be made after the 2025 NFL Draft, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports had a real doozy for the Lions.
"Kenny Pickett to the Lions"
"No more than two months after the Cleveland Browns sent a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Pickett as 2025 competition, the ex-Steelers prospect already feels as if he's on the fringe of the roster, thanks to the draft's dual addition of Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Unless one of those two rookies is stashed on the scout team, Pickett might be better off bouncing to Detroit in another trade, where the Lions could use a more experienced No. 2 behind Jared Goff. Dan Campbell would like his grit."
Pickett was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 (20th overall), and he started 24 games over his first two seasons. He also wasn't very good, with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a 78.8 passer rating and a 53.6 QBR over that span.
Pickett spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles after the Steelers traded him there, and he was traded to the Cleveland Browns this offseason. As Benjamin noted, the Browns' quarterback room is suddenly very crowded with the additions of Joe Flacco and the draft double-dip that brought Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
As for the supposed "grit" Campbell would like, let's refer to a report from Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after Pickett was traded to the Eagles.
"Despite being 14-10 as a starter and getting to work with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Pickett was traded because of his behavior and expressed unhappiness over the arrival of (Russell) Wilson."
ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported similar things, while noting how Pickett felt betrayed by the Steelers and wanted a fresh start.
So, since it meant he'd likely become the backup and at minimum he'd have to compete for the starting job, Pickett didn't like the Steelers' signing of Russell Wilson. Late in the 2023 season, when he was returning from an ankle injury and Mason Rudolph was going to remain the starter, Pickett refused to dress as the Steelers' emergency No. 3 quarterback.
Pickett's tune was different when the Browns drafted Sanders, but his complaints to force his way out of Pittsburgh are still on his resume and won't be easily forgotten.
Skill level (lack thereof) aside, Pickett is not a culture fit in Detroit. Mentioning his "grit" (also a lack thereof) as a selling point further proves how lame it is to offer him as any kind of option to replace Hooker--if the Lions even look to add another quarterback.
