Is Hendon Hooker A Good Fit For The Lions? Fantasy Football Outlook

The Detroit Lions had two top 20 picks heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. They were one of several teams that could have spent a first-round pick on a quarterback.

Instead, the Lions stood by Jared Goff and didn’t use either first-round selection on his replacement. They used their first selection on Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs and their second selection on Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell.

Detroit then used their two second-round picks on Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta and Alabama defensive back Brian Branch. However, the Lions finally added a quarterback in the third round, using the 68th overall pick on Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker.

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What Did Hendon Hooker Accomplish At Tennessee?

Hooker was considered a potential first-round pick heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. However, he slid to the third round, where the Lions were happy to snag him. The young quarterback fell because of the torn ACL he suffered last year.

Yet, Hooker was a potential first-round lock before tearing his ACL at Tennessee. After starting his career at Virginia Tech, Hooker transferred to Tennessee and became a star. He completed 68% of his passes for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2021. Hooker then had a breakout season in 2022, completing 69.6% of his pass attempts for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns. Furthermore, he had only five interceptions over his past 632 pass attempts.

After a productive college career, what can Lion fans and fantasy players expect from the former Volunteer quarterback?

Is Hendon Hooker A Good Fit For The Lions?

Goff has two years left on his contract. Yet, Detroit can release the quarterback next offseason without any dead money. Many fantasy players expect Hooker to be the team’s starting quarterback in 2024.

However, Goff played well last season. He completed 65.1% of his pass attempts for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns, compared to only seven interceptions. The veteran quarterback could be the starter for the next two years, and no one should be surprised.

Hooker could be the next franchise quarterback or a career backup. His third-round draft capital isn’t enough to guarantee him a chance at a starting role in Detroit this year or next. However, fantasy players should still target the former Tennessee quarterback in their dynasty rookie drafts. Hooker is worth a second-round selection in superflex leagues.

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