The Detroit Lions selected Hendon Hooker in the early third round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday evening in Kansas City, Missouri. Hooker, a product of Tennessee, could become the franchise quarterback for the Lions.
Hooker was the fifth quarterback drafted, following Bryce Young (No. 1 overall to Carolina), C.J. Stroud (No. 2 to Houston), Anthony Richardson (No. 4 to Indianapolis), and Will Levis (No. 33 to Tennessee).
Jared Goff led the Lions to the playoffs last season as their primary quarterback. Goff, age 28, is signed until 2024. On Friday, Nate Sudfeld was the only other quarterback on the roster.
Hooker finished fifth in Heisman voting after hurling for 3,175 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only two interceptions in 11 games. He was on the verge of being a Heisman Trophy finalist during a second consecutive stellar season for the Volunteers.
On November 19, 2022, however, he suffered an ACL tear in his left knee during a contest against South Carolina.
Hooker told The Athletic in a Tuesday article that he expects to be “100 percent cleared” to play by September 1. He also posted videos of himself working out on social media this week, stating that it was the first time he had dropped back to throw in approximately five months.
After completing six years of college, four at Virginia Tech and two at Tennessee, Hooker is already 25 years old — just one year younger than former NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson.
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