DETROIT – The Detroit Lions draft Tennessee Volunteers star quarterback and once-potential first-rounder Hendon Hooker in the third round of the NFL draft.
Hooker threw for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Volunteers while rushing for 430 yards and five touchdowns before tearing his ACL.
The selection will do wonders for both the 25-year-old quarterback and the Lions as he will look to compete with Jared Goff once fully healthy.
Coming into the draft, the Lions didn’t have many glaring weaknesses, though linebacker certainly warranted an upgrade.
The Lions will look to address other needs at positions like cornerback, defensive line, wide receiver, and guard.
General manager Brad Holmes made waves across the league in Thursday’s first round when he traded the No. 6 overall pick to the Arizona Cardinals. In exchange, the Lions received the No. 12 pick, the No. 34 pick, and a fifth-round pick. They also gave Arizona their third-round pick, No. 81 overall, in the deal.
Detroit shocked everybody by drafting Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12, and then reached for the best linebacker in the draft, Jack Campbell, at No. 18.
