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Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker remains an NFL unknown. A third round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, Hooker has appeared in only three games, completing six of nine passes for 62 yards. 

Hooker has good size, at 6’3” and 220 lbs. He was an accomplished quarterback at a major college program, passing for more than 11,000 yards and 80 touchdowns at Tennessee, with only 12 interceptions. He added 25 rushing touchdowns. 

After adding reliable backup quarterback Kyle Allen this offseason, the Lions have seemingly replaced Hooker as Jared Goff’s backup. Now is the time to find a quarterback-needy team and sell Hooker’s upside, hoping to get the best return possible. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team desperate for a quarterback. They are holding out hope Aaron Rodgers delays retirement another season and graces the team with his play. If the Steelers miss out on a quarterback in the first round of the Draft, April 24, even if Rodgers decides to play, Detroit should package Hooker and its fourth round pick (#130 overall) and secure Pittsburgh’s third round pick (#83 overall). If the Steelers balk at the deal, package Hooker and pick 102 in the third round for the Steelers’ third rounder and a later round pick. Other teams, such as the Browns, Giants, Jets, Saints and Seahawks are all possible trade partners, too. 

By trading Hooker for a third round pick, the Lions can get a starter at offensive guard. A recent mock draft by Michigan Sports Media identified LSU guard Miles Frazier as a possibility in the third round. Frazier is 6’6” and 317 lbs, and started all 13 games last season. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein says “Frazier has knock-back pop and is capable of mauling in tight spaces.” It is hard to imagine a better set of attributes for springing Jahmyr Gibbs for long runs. 

Now is the time to trade Hooker. After the draft, teams will have added young talent to their quarterback rooms, eliminating Detroit’s leverage. The Lions could hold on to Hooker in case a team suffers an injury to a quarterback during training camp, but what if Hooker looks bad in camp or gets hurt? 

Trade Hendon Hooker. Give him a chance to demonstrate his ability as another team’s no. 2 quarterback, or better. His value may never be higher, and Detroit needs a starter on a Super Bowl contending team now rather than a projected third string quarterback. 

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