Carson Palmer can’t wait to see how Hendon Hooker pans out in NFL
Mackenzie Salmon caught up with Carson Palmer ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft and he explains why he thinks Hendon Hooker is being slept on.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
Hendon Hooker told USA TODAY Sports he would rank himself as the best quarterback in the 2023 NFL draft. He has a chance to prove himself.
The Detroit Lions selected the Tennessee quarterback in the third round with the 68th overall pick following a trade with the Denver Broncos.
Hooker was the fifth quarterback selected in the first 68 selections.
Hooker, 25, is coming off a serious knee injury suffered in a game versus South Carolina on Nov. 19. Despite being injured during his final college season, Hooker was named SEC offensive player of the year. He passed for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Hooker played two seasons at Tennessee. He compiled 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns and five interceptions with the Volunteers. Prior to enrolling at Tennessee, he played three years at Virginia Tech.
2023 NFL draft: Live updates, analysis of second and third rounds
How does Hendon Hooker fit with Lions?
Jared Goff is Detroit’s current starter at quarterback and has two years remaining on his current contract. Goff’s contract status allows Hooker to learn Detroit’s offensive system and rehabilitate his knee injury from college. Hooker told USA TODAY Sports that he’s expected to be fully cleared on Sept. 1. There shouldn’t be a rush to get him at the top of the depth chart as a rookie, but he could be the Lions’ starting quarterback in a year or two.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
