Tag: nfl draft

Lions draft QB Hendon Hooker in 3rd round; he’s coming off torn ACL

ALLEN PARK — The Lions moved down in the third round on Friday and selected 25-year-old quarterback Hendon Hooker who played at Tennessee.

It’s likely Hooker dropped down the draft board because he’s coming off an ACL tear that occurred on Nov. 19. Jared Goff is the Lions’ starter but they needed to add a quarterback along with Goff and Nate Sudfeld.

Hooker said he’s looking forward to working with Goff and learning from him.

“I’ll be a sponge, come in and learn every nuance of how to be a pro. Just admire him,” Hooker said on Friday night. “He’s been in the league for a long time and he’s been doing a great job of developing every year…and that’s all you can ask for.”

Hooker, who is 6-foot-3 and 217, was an early Heisman favorite in 2022, eventually winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year and being named a third-team Associated Press All-American. He threw for 3,135 yards (229-329-69.6%) and 27 scores (against just two interceptions) and rushed for 430 yards (104 carries, 4.1 per) and five touchdowns in 11 starts before he suffered a torn left ACL that ended his season.

He said he’s taking his knee rehab day by day and didn’t give a projected date on when he could return to the field. “When I’m ready to rock ‘n’ roll it’s going to be a site to see,” said Hooker who met with the team in Allen Park during the pre-draft process.

Hooker has a long-time connection with Lions GM Brad Holmes who played with his dad, Alan, at North Carolina A&T.

At Tennessee, Hooker led the nation’s top offense with an FBS-best 9.53 yards per pass attempt. He also ranked second in pass efficiency (175.5) and seventh in completion percentage in 2022 and set Tennessee records by throwing 261 passes without an interception and recording a touchdown pass in 20 straight games.

Hooker started his college career at Virginia Tech and took over the quarterback role at Tennessee in 2021.

Hooker’s NFL.com draft prospect bio reads: “Hooker’s age and ACL tear will be starting points for many draft conversations, but the most important question to be answered is whether he can thrive outside of the Tennessee offense. Hooker was frequently a half-field reader, which means he could lean on spacing, speed and/or route combinations to make life easier. He’s more accurate outside the numbers than between the hashes and his deep ball placement was much more uneven than expected. However, Hooker plays with excellent poise and footwork as a pocket passer. He will make quarterback coaches and play-callers happy with his adherence to keeping plays on schedule. He’s still showing signs of improvement and growth at the position, and his ability to hurt teams with his legs creates opportunities to help his offense outside of what he does in the pocket. His recovery from the ACL tear will require monitoring, but he has the talent to become a starter in a timing-based, spread offense.’’

Lions trade up to add DB Brian Branch in second round

ALLEN PARK — The Lions moved up in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night to select defensive back Brian Branch who played at Alabama.

Detroit made the deal with the Packers to move up three spots to grab Branch who was their fourth pick of the draft and second on the defensive side. He will join Alabama teammate RB Jahmyr Gibbs who was drafted 12th overall on Thursday. The Lions gave up their 159th pick in the fifth round in the deal.

Even though he wasn’t selected in the first round, Branch stayed in Kansas City calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He said it was tough getting passed over. “But I’m happy to be a Lion, that’s the main thing right now,” Branch said via Zoom from Kansas City.

Branch, who is 6-foot and 190 pounds, was a star at Sandy Creek High School in Georgia, the same school that Lions Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson attended. He won the Georgia 5A Iron Man of the Year Award as a senior for his play on both sides of the ball.

At Alabama, the defensive back played in all 15 games in 2021, starting seven times and leading the Tide with nine pass breakups (also recording 55 tackles, five for loss). Branch broke out as a second-team Associated Press All-American as a junior, starting all 13 games (90 tackles, 14 for loss with three sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups). 

He said playing for coach Nick Saban at Alabama gives him an edge.

“It’s prepared me a lot. I have a bit of an advantage because of the system I was in, I was almost in a pro-style system. Coach Saban taught me a lot of things. I’m happy he was my coach and I’m ready to play at the next level,” Branch said.

He’s versatile enough to play any position in the defensive backfield.

“I value it a lot and I work at it all phases of the game. I’m trying to get on the field anyway I can get on the field whether it be corner, safety, nickel – anywhere they want me,” Branch said.

He was teammates with running back Jahmyr Gibbs who was selected by the Lions with the 12th overall pick.

“Gibbs is a generational talent. … He did a lot of things I feel like his running style is like nobody I’ve ever seen, he can get in and out of holes, cuts easily and him being able to be a receiver sets him apart,” Branch said. “The sky is the limit for Jahmyr.”

As a true freshman at Alabama Branch played in a dozen games with three starts (27 tackles, two INTs, seven PBUs) in their 2020 national championship season.

Branch’s NFL prospect bio by Lance Zierlein reads: “Plug-and-play defensive back with every ingredient necessary to become a high-performing starter early in his career. Branch has primarily handled nickel coverage at Alabama but has the range and instincts for single-high or split safety looks. He’s quick, fast and strong with the ability to match up with shifty slots, bigger possession receivers and pass-catching tight ends. He’s urgent and has a mind for the game. He takes playmaking angles into the throwing lane but does have a tendency to play it a little safe from off-man coverage. There are areas where he can improve but no real weaknesses, which could make him one of the safest picks in the draft.’’

Lions draft TE Sam LaPorta of Iowa to open second round

ALLEN PARK — With the first of three second-round picks, the Lions selected tight end Sam LaPorta who played at Iowa, on Friday night with the 34th overall pick.

LaPorta will help fill the gap left when Detroit traded away tight end T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline last season. LaPorta joins Lions tight ends Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Shane Zylstra and Derrick Deese Jr. 

“I’m going to try to add as much value as I can as quickly as I can,” LaPorta said during a media interview on Friday night where he was speaking from a draft party in his hometown of Highland, Ill.

Of Detroit’s first three picks, two are from Iowa including linebacker Jack Campbell.

LaPorta said he was repeatedly asked during the interview process which teammate he would like to take with him to the NFL and his answer was always the same: Jack Campbell. He said he shot Campbell a congratulatory note on Thursday night.

LaPorta met coach Dan Campbell, a former NFL tight end, at the NFL Combine. “I can’t wait to work for him … I can certainly learn from his journey,” LaPorta said.

LaPorta, who is 6-foot-3 and weighs 245,  led Iowa in receiving in 2022 (58-657-11.3, one TD, 12 games) and won the Big Ten Tight End of the Year Award. He set the school record for tight ends with 153 career receptions.

Per his NFL draft prospect report: “LaPorta has the ability to threaten zone coverage and will make the basic catches. However, he lacks the desired elusiveness and ball skills to come away with the more challenging catches. LaPorta takes on run-blocking chores with inconsistent positioning, but has the potential to improve with more work in that phase of the game. His catch production is splashy, but he appears to have average-starter potential at the next level.”

LaPorta played in 12 games as a true freshman at Iowa in 2019 (15-188-12.5). He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection in 2020 after leading the Hawkeyes with 27 receptions (271 yards, 10.0 per, one TD) in eight games. League coaches voted him to the third team in 2021 as the team’s top receiver (53-670-12.6, team-high three TDs in 14 games). 

LaPorta excelled at high school in Highland, Ill., catching the second-most touchdown passes in state history with 50 in his career.