The Detroit Lions made a potential long-term investment at quarterback with Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Hooker couldn’t play as a rookie because of an ACL injury sustained at the end of his college career, but some media personalities saw him as a quarterback who could push Jared Goff in the future for the starting job with the Lions.
This offseason, though, pundits see Hooker more as a cut candidate.
Woodward Sports Network’s Sean Balligan went one step further, arguing on July 3 that the Lions have already decided that Hooker is not going to make Detroit’s 53-man roster after the preseason.
“The decision has already been made,” Balligan said about the Lions cutting Hooker. “You know it, I know it. We all know it.”
Pundits have discussed Hooker as a potential cut candidate since the Lions added quarterback Kyle Allen this offseason. Detroit signed the veteran backup quarterback during the first week of NFL free agency in March.
Hooker appeared in three games for the Lions last season. He completed six of nine passes for 62 yards. Hooker also took one sack and rushed for two yards on five carries.
Lions QB Hendon Hooker Pegged NFL Cut Candidate
Balligan isn’t the only Lions media personality who has identified Hooker as a cut candidate recently.
A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton wasn’t as definitive with his analysis of Hooker’s chances to make Detroit’s roster. But in a final Lions 53-man roster prediction story released on July 4, Payton projected Detroit to retain Goff and Allen while cutting Hooker.
“We’ll see what happens during training camp, but right now I have to go with the guy who has the experience and the reps,” Payton wrote. “Allen has a lot of that over Hooker. I’m also still sold on the idea that they bring in one more guy this summer.”
Hooker has experienced an awkward couple NFL seasons. His ACL injury at Tennessee in November 2022 meant his rookie campaign with the Lions was going to be a redshirt year. Yet, being a third-round pick placed a lot of expectation on the injured quarterback.
Then last season, the Lions were one of the favorites to win the NFC. With that in mind, Detroit courted Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement to be Goff’s backup last season. With Super Bowl aspirations, the Lions couldn’t really afford to have a No. 2 signal-caller who had never previously played in the NFL.
What that means for Hooker entering his third season is he’s a 27-year-old backup who has yet to attempt 10 passes in the league. And the Lions still have Super Bowl aspirations, which makes it risky slotting him at No. 2 on the depth chart.
Hooker Faces Critical 2025 NFL Preseason?
Balligan’s co-host, Neal Ruhl, also wouldn’t go as far as to say Hooker will definitely be gone at the end of August. But Ruhl strongly argued Hooker’s preseason performance will determine his 2025 fate in Detroit.
“I think that it’s do or die,” said Ruhl. “We talk about it all the time, and you know as well as I do, the preseason dictates who makes the roster and who doesn’t. It’s your only shot.
“It’s your one opportunity for NFL glory. And if you don’t show out in that preseason game, it is over for you.
“So, Hendon Hooker needs to approach it as such. He needs to be breaking down the [Chargers’] defensive scheme.
“He needs to be in the playbook right now, looking at defensive schematic tendencies right now.”
Fortunately for Hooker, he will have an extra preseason opportunity. Including the Hall of Fame Game, Detroit will play four preseason contests.
The Lions will open the NFL’s preseason slate against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, July 31.
