Lions Take Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker in the Third Round

The quarterback shined for the Volunteers in back-to-back seasons.

The Lions traded up in the third round to select Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker with pick No. 68, ending the signal-caller’s slide. The 25 year-old became the fifth quarterback taken in the NFL draft, and the second on Day 2 behind Will Levis.

A transfer from Virginia Tech, Hooker broke out for the Volunteers over the past two seasons, accumulating at least 2,900 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns each year, while rushing for 1,000 yards combined since 2021. Hooker suffered a torn ACL vs. South Carolina in November, which ended his season.

The Lions are taking Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 29, 2023

The Lions have Jared Goff as their starting quarterback, but the team can easily release the veteran after the 2023 season if they want to go younger at the position. Hooker will likely not be ready for the start of the season, but Detroit can give him time to recover and develop behind Goff.

At one point, it seemed like Hooker might sneak into the first round, but Detroit was able to get him in the early third.