We are smack dab in the middle of hot take season people. Buckle up and get ready for a crazy month of all kinds of takes. We’ve already seen one writer suggest that the Detroit Lions abandon Jared Goff for Justin Fields in 2025 and we’ve seen an analyst suggest the Lions sign Michael Thomas. What do we have today?
Today we have Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder suggesting that the Lions trade away Hendon Hooker and sign former Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill. It’s a hot take, but here’s the thing. I totally agree with it because Holder makes all the right points.
“The Detroit Lions gave Jared Goff a contract extension this offseason, which pretty much ensures Hooker will be a backup throughout his rookie deal. Trading last year’s third-round pick to a QB-needy team sooner rather than later would allow the front office to maximize its return for him.
Also, the Lions already have Nate Sudfeld on the roster to fill the backup role or could sign someone like Ryan Tannehill to play behind Goff. In the latter scenario, it would help that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was on the coaching staff in Miami when the 35-year-old was there from 2012 to 2018.”
Really solid points. I would only add that Dan Campbell was also there with Tannehill during that time and was his head coach during part of the 2015 season.
The Hendon Hooker pick has long never made sense to me. The plan was always to extend Jared Goff at some point and now the Lions have a 26-year old quarterback that will be 30 years old when Goff’s contract ends in 2028. This guy was never meant to take over as a starter someday and there’s no real situation in which he could unless an injury takes place.
There has to be a team out there that Hooker could go to and try for a starting spot right now. A team like the Raiders would be a good spot for him since their quarterback room is wide open at the moment. Hooker would compete with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell for a spot. Maybe they would give the Lions a day three pick to make it happen. Perhaps a fourth round pick to replace the one the team traded to move up for Sione Vaki?
It terms of Tannehill, he doesn’t just represent a chance for the Lions to have a viable premium backup quarterback who’s played with Campbell and Johnson, but it allows them a chance to hit the reset button on their potential quarterback of the future search.
The Lions could go into the 2025 NFL Draft and have a chance at 21-year-old prospects like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe Or Texas’ Quinn Ewers. Guys that the Lions could take their time with a develop and will be 26-years-old when Goff’s deal ends. Guys at that age could maybe take over the role earlier and the Lions could use their team option to get out of the Goff deal after the 2027 season if they wanted to.
This is just a much better plan for a team that want’s to have sustained success over the years. You have to start at the quarterback position to do it. The Lions are in a weird place for their future there right now. This makes it significantly less weird.