Who Should I Start? Hendon Hooker or Aidan O'Connell

Friday, July 18, 10:50 AM

It would be "surprising" if Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker loses the backup job behind Jared Goff to veteran Kyle Allen, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Detroit drafted Hooker out of Tennessee in the third round back in 2023, and he spent the majority of his rookie season rehabbing from a torn ACL. Hooker was the team's nominal backup for most of 2024, but Detroit signed veteran Teddy Bridgewater to take over the job down the stretch of the season, signaling a lack of comfort with Hooker in the role. Pouncy writes that while Hooker should be considered the favorite entering camp, he "needs to show development." It would take an injury to Goff for either of Detroit's backup quarterback options to be fantasy-relevant.

Friday, April 11, 12:07 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Geno Smith to a two-year, $75 million contract extension this offseason, but it's extremely team-friendly, and The Athletic's Vic Tafur thinks bringing in a young QB in this year's NFL draft to learn behind Smith makes sense. Tafur also thinks the Raiders might trade backup Aidan O'Connell on draft weekend. The Raiders have a clear out with Smith after 2026, as they guaranteed only $18.5 of his $26.5 million 2026 salary, and none of the $39.5 million he's due to make in 2027. Minority owner Tom Brady likes the idea of rookie QBs sitting and learning, and the Raiders will have some interesting options later in the draft in what is considered a down year for QBs. Tafur doesn't think it makes much sense to take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 6 overall, and a good number of QBs could be off the board by the team's second pick at No. 37 overall.