Going back a year or so, and right through to Day 1 of training camp, Hendon Hooker's future with the Detroit Lions has seemed very up in the air. It's almost as if using a third-round pick on an older quarterback prospect who was working his way back from a torn ACL, and who came from a simplified college offense, was destined to not work out. And with Jared Goff not going anywhere as the Lions' starting quarterback, Hooker has no path to taking over anytime soon.
When the Lions brought Teddy Bridgewater back late last season, then elevated him over Hooker as the No. 2 quarterback for the playoff game against the Washington Commanders, they effectively squashed any trade value he might have had. The vague notion of a couple potential suitors has been out there, but nothing has seemed all that serious or likely.
In competition with journeyman veteran Kyle Allen to be Goff's backup, and now in a second healthy offseason, it feels like now or never for Hooker. If he can't beat out Allen for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, it makes no sense to keep him as the No. 3 quarterback.
Since taking third-team reps during that first training camp practice, the reviews of Hooker's work in practice have been good. On Saturday, Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit noted he had the "throw of the day" on an 82-yard touchdown to wide receiver Tom Kennedy.
The competition between Hooker and Allen will naturally ramp up in preseason games, and the Lions have four of them starting with the Hall of Fame Game against the Los Angeles Chargers on July 31.
Hendon Hooker is reviving his trade value at the ideal time for the Lions
In an ideal world, Hooker would clearly best Allen in the backup quarterback competition and leave no doubt about who the best option is. It's plausible, as other teams sort their backup quarterback situations out during the preseason, that the loser of the competition becomes a trade asset.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report put Hooker on his list of quarterbacks other teams should pursue via trade, with a couple interesting potential suitors.
"If the Lions aren't sold on Hooker as a long-term backup and/or successor to Goff, they could be willing to trade the final two years of his contract. The Chicago Bears and New York Jets are two teams that should see if he can be had."
"The Bears, who employ former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as head coach, could view Hooker as a multi-year backup to Caleb Williams. With a high athletic ceiling, Hooker might mirror Williams' play style than Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum in Johnson's system."
"The Jets, who employ former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as head coach, might want more depth behind Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor. Fields is dealing with a dislocated toe, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini, and Hooker's dual-threat potential would mesh with New York's QB room."
At this early stage, the Bears seem content to let Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum battle it out to be Caleb Williams' backup. But Hooker obviously has familiarity with head coach Ben Johnson, and two other former Lions' assistants (Antwaan Randle and J.T. Barrett) are on Johnson's staff.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn also brought a couple Lions' assistant coaches with him to his new job, with Tanner Engstrand a first-time offensive coordinator and Steve Heiden serving as offensive line coach. Tyrod Taylor seems locked in as Justin Fields' backup, but maybe the Jets are keeping a general eye on Hooker.
Regardless of how things go between now and the start of the season, it's clear Hooker is not seen as a long-term backup in Detroit. And at 27 years old, he's not a viable successor to Goff. So as much as preseason games will be critical to him winning the competition with Allen, they can also be a showcase for potential trade suitors and that's a scenario the Lions should be open to.
