The Detroit Lions started the summer with an open competition for the No. 2 quarterback spot, but a clear leader has since emerged in veteran Kyle Allen.
That could leave the team facing a big decision on former third-round pick Hendon Hooker. Though the Lions could make a big investment behind Jared Goff and keep three quarterbacks on their active roster, one analyst believes Hooker would be a better fit for the trade block.
Hendon Hooker Struggling to Stand Out
Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports noted that the “Hendon Hooker experiment is not working out for the Detroit Lions” as the former Tennessee quarterback has struggled in preseason action and been outplayed by the veteran Allen.
“Now, as we move closer to the end of training camp and the preseason, the Lions look more like a team that is going to cut Hooker and carry two quarterbacks than a team that is going to hold on to him in hopes that he catches on while holding a roster spot,” Payton wrote. “The Lions don’t have to cut him, though; there are teams out there that would probably trade for him.”
Payton suggested the New Orleans Saints could be that team. The Saints have a murky quarterback situation after Derek Carr’s retirement and could use another arm to compete for the starting job.
“Tyler Shough could be their guy of the future, but we know that Spencer Rattler and Jake Haner are definitely not,” Payton wrote. “Both have struggled in the regular season time they’ve had. For that reason, the Saints might be on the lookout for another guy who can come in and have a shot to get the backup spot or even hold down a practice squad role. Hooker would benefit from having more of a chance in New Orleans than he would in Detroit.”
Payton suggested the Lions could propose a straight-up trade, sending Hooker for defensive tackle Khristian Boyd.
Defensive Lineman Could Boost Detroit’s Defense
Payton noted that Boyd has been on Detroit’s radar, making a visit with the Lions before the 2024 NFL draft. The Saints ended up taking Boyd in the sixth round last year, but he has fallen down the depth cahrt since the team signed Davon Godchaux and rookie Omari Thomas.
“The Lions could use the help on the interior of their defensive line with Alim McNeill, Mekhi Wingo, and Levi Onwuzurike all expected to miss significant time,” Payton wrote. “Boyd is not a starter in Detroit, but he has a better chance at cracking the rotation for a good part of the season in Detroit than he does in New Orleans. So it’s worth trying for the Lions.”
While it’s not clear yet if the Lions would be willing to pull the plug on Hooker, the team has shown faith in Allen and held back on handing the No. 2 job to their former third-round pick. The team brought Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement late last season, demoting Hooker to No. 3 and playing Bridgewater briefly in their divisional-round playoff game when Goff went down with an injury.
