The Detroit Lions face a critical offseason after stunningly falling short against the Washington Commanders in the playoffs. They've already lost key coaches like Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn and now must find a way to reshape the team to ensure they're NFC contenders once again in 2025.
Jared Goff's meltdown in the postseason is a topic of much conversation, though he was one of the NFL's best quarterbacks this year and is locked into the roster moving forward. That said, other players at the position could be casualties as the Lions look for even marginal upgrades across the board.
One new prediction from Bill Barnwell of ESPN sees Detroit saying goodbye to a veteran signal-caller, but it might not be the one fans initially expected. After bringing Teddy Bridgewater back before the playoffs, the Lions suddenly have more quarterbacks than they have space for.
Thus, 2023 third-round pick Hendon Hooker might soon be shown the door.
Hendon Hooker leading a Ben Johnson offense next season could be very fantasy friendly.
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) January 16, 2025
This past preseason, Hooker passed for 300 yards and rushed for 138.
Mobility and familiarity with Johnson’s system. pic.twitter.com/k5rn4L1KVt
Lions Predicted to Cut QB Hendon Hooker This Offseason
Barnwell is one of the most knowledgeable and respected NFL writers on the planet. When he says something, it typically carries some weight. That he suggests Hooker, who is 27 years old already, as a cut candidate, should speak volumes.
"The Lions don't have anybody playing meaningful snaps who sticks out as a likely cap casualty. One potential candidate is the 27-year-old Hooker, who has thrown nine passes in two years. It seems telling that the Lions signed a quasi-retired Bridgewater at the end of the season and quickly pushed him ahead of Hooker on the depth chart, a move which ended up mattering when Jared Goff briefly left the playoff loss to the Washington Commanders."
Hooker is an interesting player. He was exceptional at Tennessee, completing 69.6% of his passes for 3,135 yards and 27 TDs with just two interceptions during his senior season. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL and has struggled to recapture the same magic.
He's suited up for three games with Detroit, completing six of nine passes for 62 yards. Hooker is not the type of guy you expect to start, though he could be an intriguing trade piece for a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, who lack adequate draft capital and have no answer under center.
No matter what happens, Hooker will be an intriguing name to watch in the coming months.