Lions Predicted to Part Ways With Quarterback in Surprise Move

The Detroit Lions are one of the most high-profile teams in the NFL right now, and for good reason. Of course, the big change is that the Lions are one of the only teams in the NFL who lost two key staffers at the same time in offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn after the Lions’ triumphant 2024 season, as well as some assistant coaches.

Johnson went to the Chicago Bears, and Aaron Glenn is with the New York Jets, so Dan Campbell has a whole new roster of coaches.

So, everyone is watching Detroit to see what they can do without these important guys in the fold. Now, the Lions are being predicted to make a big move before September, and it has to do with their quarterback room.

A New Quarterback Room for the Detroit Lions

In a Sunday, June 22, piece for FanSided’s Detroit Jock City, Chris Schad urges the Lions to trade for a new backup quarterback for Jared Goff.

“Goff is firmly established as Detroit’s franchise quarterback but 2023 third-round pick Hendon Hooker didn’t take a step forward in his sophomore year,” he stated. “The Lions also signed Kyle Allen to provide competition, but he has been a mixed bag when called upon, posting a 7-12 record as a starter and an 82.3 passer rating over his seven-year career.”

He suggests the Lions look at trading for Aidan O’Connell of the Las Vegas Raiders. O’Connell was a fourth-round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft by Josh McDaniels and the Las Vegas Raiders. “His tenure carried over into Antonio Pierce’s one season as head coach and he had ample opportunity to start in both seasons,” Schad notes.

Now, the Raiders are under new head coach Pete Carroll, so there may be an opportunity to trade. “It sounds simple, but finding a quarterback who can make the right decision in the right moment is something Detroit should be looking for,” Schad states. He adds that if Hooker and Allen can’t take “advantage of elite weapons such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams,” then “it may be worth giving up the late-round pick to bring O’Connell to Detroit.”

O’Connell isn’t a name that’s been talked about much in terms of bringing him to Detroit, so this would be a surprise move.

Another Quarterback Option

In a Saturday, June 21, piece for the same publication, Michael Bohlin also suggests getting a new Q2 for the Lions. “While Goff is undoubtedly one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, the situation behind him on the depth chart is much murkier as Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen are the only other options on the roster and, quite frankly, neither has the track record to make fans think they would be able to step in and keep the Lions offense moving with the precision Goff does,” he explains in the piece.

His pick is a veteran: former All-Pro Carson Wentz. “Having a stable veteran presence who has proven the ability to run an offense at a high level during his career would ease concerns,” he notes.

Bohlin also makes the good point that Wentz wouldn’t play unless Goff was injured, so “trusting him makes more sense than adding a young quarterback who has less experience in high-pressure situations,” which I agree with on many levels.