It is suggested that the Lions sign an ex-top-10 quarterback to compete with Hendon Hooker.
Despite the retirement of Teddy Bridgewater, who transitioned to coaching, the Detroit Lions still have quarterback depth with Hendon Hooker. However, as the team enters a critical Super Bowl-focused season in 2024, the question arises whether Detroit would trust a quarterback like Hooker, who has no NFL playing experience, to step in if Jared Goff faces a significant injury. According to Christian Booher of SI.com’s All Lions, if the answer is negative, the Lions should consider pursuing veteran Ryan Tannehill in free agency.
Booher pointed out Tannehill’s extensive experience, having made the postseason in four seasons and accumulated 151 starts throughout his career. Despite a dip in production in 2023, where he threw four touchdowns and seven interceptions in eight starts, Tannehill remains a seasoned option for a backup quarterback role.
Tannehill, initially the eighth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft for the Miami Dolphins, has consistently maintained a regular season record of no worse than two games below .500 in his career, with a playoff victory in one season.
While the Lions have expressed confidence in Hooker, a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft recovering from a major knee injury, signing a quarterback to sit ahead of him on the depth chart could hinder his development. Third-string quarterbacks often struggle to receive practice time, potentially slowing Hooker’s growth.
However, if the Lions are hesitant to trust Hooker as the primary backup, signing Tannehill would provide another experienced option behind Goff. Tannehill’s best seasons were in 2020 and 2021 with the Titans, leading to a 23-10 record. In 2019, he topped the NFL with 9.6 yards per attempt and earned the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Considering the Lions’ approach to signing quarterbacks in the preseason, where they evaluate the situation before bringing in additional depth, it would make sense not to sign anyone who would compete significantly with Hooker for practice repetitions. This strategy allows Hooker to receive ample practice opportunities behind Goff during the offseason, enabling the Lions to assess his readiness as the team’s No. 2 quarterback.
However, if Hooker doesn’t prove ready, the Lions might explore the quarterback market. In such a scenario, Tannehill may not be a realistic target for Detroit, as he could attract interest from teams vying for a starting role in the 2024 season. Additionally, Tannehill is likely to sign with a team well before August, potentially as a backup.
