NFL Analyst Discusses Backup Quarterbacks Lions Could Draft
The Detroit Lions have their starting quarterback heading into the 2023 season. Jared Goff cemented his role in the position with an outstanding second half of the 2022 campaign.
Though the Lions have their starter in place, this doesn’t mean they won’t have an interest in what the 2023 NFL Draft has to offer at the position. Detroit general manager Brad Holmes admitted earlier in the offseason that the Lions plan to address the position’s depth.
“Going into this past year, yeah, we went down to the umpteenth hour trying to figure out what we were gonna do at number two,” Holmes told 97.1 The Ticket. “I’ve let it be known internally that we’re not gonna be in that position again heading into this year, so we have to get that settled. I thought Nate Sudfeld did a nice job with us, so we’ll figure that out. But, I am gonna make it a point of emphasis and make sure that, being that we’re finally in a position to address that quarterbacks room behind Jared, we have been in that position in the past. But, we’re gonna make that a point of emphasis this year.”
Right now, the consensus among draft analysts is that there are four quarterbacks at the top, then a drop off in the position’s second tier.
Speaking with reporters Friday, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah spoke about four quarterbacks who are currently mid-round prospects. Among those listed were Fresno State’s Jake Haener, Houston’s Clayton Tune, UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson and TCU’s Max Duggan.
Haener impressed at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. He was considered the best passer at the event. In Jeremiah’s eyes, Haener has displayed the necessary grit and toughness that could make him effective at the next level.
At Fresno State, Haener compiled a 21-8 record, and won bowl games in each of his last two seasons.
Duggan also showcased grit during his time in college, most recently by leading TCU to the national championship game in 2022.
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“I think when you look at Max Duggan, you look at a guy that's played some football that's competitive, that's tough,” Jeremiah said. “You know, he has kind of the qualities of guys that have been Day 3 guys that have got on the field.”
Thompson-Robinson, meanwhile, brings a mobility factor. He has the necessary arm strength to make tough throws, and can also make plays on the move. In his five years at UCLA, he threw for over 10,000 yards, while rushing for another 1,826.
“I mentioned Dorian Thompson Robinson a little bit earlier, who gives you a different skill set and a little more dynamic presence there,” Jeremiah said.
Jeremiah summed up the four players succinctly. While they don’t have the spectacular plays on film, they have intangibles that could make them impact players in the pros.
“They're tough, they're competitive. They're smart,” Jeremiah said. “They just find ways to make winning plays at the time. So, I think those guys are going to be Day 3 guys, but why not take a shot on one of those.”
The above traits make these players fits for the Lions’ culture. It remains to be seen exactly what direction Holmes goes at quarterback, but the Lions could certainly pick up one of the aforementioned players on the draft’s third day.
