For all the buzz around Hendon Hooker, Lions general manager Brad Holmes has set the expectations for the incoming rookie’s first season.
The Detroit Lions were clearly in the market for a quarterback in this year’s draft, it was just a matter or where they took one and who it would be. After trading down a couple times, right out of the second round, they selected Hendon Hooker at No. 68 overall in the third round.
Hooker is coming off a torn ACL late last season. While he appears to be making great progress and he expects to be ready for training camp, the Lions don’t have to rush anything with him. And if last year with Jameson Williams is any indicator, caution will be the word with Hooker too.
On the surface, the Lions have an ideal situation for Hooker. Jared Goff is locked in place as the starting quarterback for 2023, and beyond his injury recovery there is a question about Hooker having to learn all the intricacies of an NFL offense after Tennessee’s offense was not all that complex.
There is not much question about Hooker’s ability to learn and that he has the overall skillset to eventually be very succesful. He simply needs time in a couple areas.
Brad Holmes makes rookie season expectations for Hendon Hooker very clear
Speaking to reporters after drafting him, Lions general manager Brad Holmes talked about Hooker.
He’s a good person, he’s smart, he’s very talented, he’s had a unique journey and he’s overcame,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes told reporters Friday night. “So, he just has to get healthy. I believe we have the right situation for him, where he can just sit back, develop, get healthy. We’re excited about his upside.”
And Expectations are clear for Hooker during his rookie season.
We didn’t draft him No. 6 overall when we were there or anything like that,” Holmes said. “He’s got to get healthy, and he’s got to develop.”
Once he’s healthy, Hooker may be able to overtake Nate Sudfeld for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. But the Lions clearly aren’t going to rush anything, from a comfortable place of having Goff to hold down the fort as their starter this year.
If Goff proves 2022 is his ceiling as the Lions’ quarterback, the conversation around Hooker will be way different a year from now.