Following the Detroit Lions’ selection of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker in the NFL Draft, Jared Goff’s future with the team is now in question. While some have expressed doubts about Hooker’s ability to take over as the franchise quarterback, others believe he should replace Goff as the face of the team.
The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy believes that Goff is still the Lions’ guy until he isn’t, but NBC Sports analyst and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms argues that Hooker has more talent than Goff. According to Simms, Hooker is a better thrower of the football and a better athlete.
Despite Hooker’s potential, however, he isn’t ready to start after suffering a torn ACL last season. In a recent episode of Chris Long’s podcast “Green Light,” Lions HC Dan Campbell said that this season would essentially be a redshirt year for Hooker.
Goff, on the other hand, had a solid season in 2020, tying for the league’s fifth-most passing touchdowns (29) and leading the Lions to their first winning season since 2017. However, his record as the team’s starting quarterback is only 12-18-1 over two seasons.
While the Lions have not yet extended Goff’s contract, GM Brad Holmes has said that they are in a good place after having dialogue with Goff’s agent. Experts believe that the Lions should wait to extend Goff’s contract, but also consider developing Hooker as a contingency plan.
For now, it seems that Goff will retain his starting role for the upcoming season, with Hooker serving as a backup and being developed for the future. The Lions’ quarterback situation is still up in the air, but with Holmes at the helm, the team is in good hands.
