Things have been a little quiet leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft...a little too quiet.
The NFL has been abnormally "behind the scenes" between the initial wave of NFL free agency and the start of the 2025 NFL Draft, which is now just days away at this point. The 2025 NFL Draft is not heavy on the blue-chip prospects at the top of the class, but it is full of depth at a number of positions. That depth figures to serve the Detroit Lions well, and with so much money being handed out by this organization to key players, you can't help but wonder when there might start to be casualties of the salary cap.
The Lions have an enviably good roster overall, so there are always going to be teams trying to poach from that depth, but they also have to make sure to get proper return on investment and not just lose everybody.
Whether they make any blockbuster moves or minor moves, there are a number of players who could make sense as trade candidates before or during the 2025 NFL Draft. But who?
3 Detroit Lions Who Could Be Traded Before (or During) the 2025 NFL Draft
1. Hendon Hooker, quarterback
We see a lot of backup/developmental quarterbacks changing teams in the NFL these days, and Hendon Hooker might be the latest. The ink is still drying on his scouting report from two years ago, and if some team doesn't get the upside play at QB2 that it covets in the 2025 NFL Draft, they might dial up Lions GM Brad Holmes and see if they can get Hooker for a late-round pick swap.
The former third-round pick out of Tennessee obviously has talent, but needs to be in the right situation. If the Lions are sold on the idea of Kyle Allen and maybe another rookie coming in and being backups to Jared Goff, they might look to get Hooker to a situation where he can actually showcase his skills and get to a second contract or starting opportunity.