The Detroit Lions are expected to be a top-tier contender in the NFC once again during the 2025 NFL season. After being the best team in football during the regular season last year, high expectations are in place for them.

On the outside looking in, the Lions should be a Super Bowl favorite. They have the talent and coaching staff to make that kind of run.

Led by Jared Goff, Detroit’s offense should be one of the best in the league. However, if he were to go down for any reason throughout the year, the Lions would be in big trouble.

Right now, the quarterback depth chart has Goff as the starter with Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen behind him. Hooker is a player that Detroit has been very high on.

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Originally drafted with the No. 68 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Hooker was expected to develop into being a quality backup. That development hasn’t gone exactly as planned.

In fact, there is a chance that the Lions could make a shocking move before the regular season arrives.

NFL.com analyst Eric Edholm has named Hooker as a potential cut candidate this year. That would be a major decision from Dan Campbell and company.

“The Lions could keep three QBs, but how long does the team keep investing in the 2023 third-rounder?” Edholm wrote. “The light just hasn’t come on yet for Hooker, who was passed over for playing time (for Teddy Bridgewater) in the playoff loss to Washington and who might not be fully trusted as the season-long backup to this point.”

Throughout his young career, Hooker has played in just three games. He has completed six of his nine pass attempts for 62 yards. So far, he has not shown anything that would make someone think he can become a starter or be a top-tier backup.

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Allen may not be an elite quarterback, but he has a much more solid track record in the NFL than Hooker does.

While it’s just an idea at this point that Hooker could be on the chopping block, he’s a name worth watching closely. It’s very possible that Detroit could move on from him.

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