The Detroit Lions selected former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker with the fifth pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Hendon Hooker : Draft | has been drafted | Age
Hooker attended James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. During his high school career he passed for 6,027 yards with 55 touchdowns and rushed for 2,975 yards and 48 touchdowns.
He finished his career there as Dudley’s all-time passing leader and received NC Preps’ All-State Player of the Year and was named to the Associated Press All-State team twice.
Under his leadership, Dudley won two state championships, with Hooker awarded the 2016 championship MVP with 6 touchdowns.
While playing football, he also played basketball for the high school scoring over 1,000 points and named a three-time All-Metro conference selection.
Hendon Hooker Draft
The Lions, after multiple trades on Day 2, have finally selected their next draft prospect.
General manager Brad Holmes moved the Lions down multiple times in order to get to pick No. 68 in the third round.
After targeting only two schools with the team’s first four selections, Holmes looked to Tennessee for the team’s fifth selection of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Earlier, the team slid down eight spots to No. 63 from No. 55, after executing a trade with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Then, Holmes slid down five spots again by trading with the Broncos.
With their third selection on Day 2 (No. 68 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Lions selected quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Since the end of the 2022 season, the Lions have been in search of a reliable backup quarterback.
Holmes made an offer to veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater, but the deal was not agreed to prior to the draft.
Last season, Hooker threw for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns. Throughout his five-year career, he surpassed 8,000 yards, and tossed 80 touchdowns (against just 12 interceptions).
Has Hendon Hooker been drafted
With the No. 68 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.
After several positive meetings with Detroit’s personnel department, the team has now added its backup quarterback.
Hooker was seen as a first-round pick by many pundits, but he fell into the third round. He is already 25 years old and coming off of a torn ACL, but he captained one of the best offenses in college football last year.
The Lions decided to select tight end Sam LaPorta with their first selection on Friday evening, along with defensive back Brian Branch with their following pick
Prior to picking Hooker, Holmes had targeted two players from Iowa and two players from Alabama in his third draft at the helm.
Barring any trades, the Lions do not have any remaining draft selections on Day 2.
Their next selection will be in the fourth round, on the final day of this year’s draft.
Age
He turned 25 years old in January, 2023.