CBS Sports: Lions sign talented backup QB to support Jared Goff, on a $9.5 million deal.
Could the Detroit Lions look into their trade alternatives if none of their backup quarterbacks impresses them during training camp? The team has stated that they anticipate a quarterback duel behind starter Jared Goff during the 2025 summer.
There is no doubt that Goff will start as the Lions’ quarterback in the upcoming season without an injury or surprise because he signed a four-year, $212 million contract deal with the team last summer, tying him to the organization through 2028.
However, in the months preceding the start of the regular season, the Lions want to let existing backup Hendon Hooker, a 2023 third-round selection, to compete with veteran free-agent addition Kyle Allen for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Goff.
While Hooker is a previous draft pick with a skill set that continues to thrill general manager Brad Holmes and his front office, Allen has experience, having played 31 games and made 19 starts in his first seven seasons. However, the Lions may look for a different quarterback if they feel the competition isn’t good enough by the end of their OTAs.
In that scenario, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin believes the Lions may enter the battle as prospective trade partners for Tennessee Titans third-year quarterback Will Levis in 2025.
“The writing has been on the wall ever since the club’s new management used this year’s No. 1 overall pick on Cam Ward, but the Tennessee Titans aren’t in a rush to move on from the former second-round pick, at least publicly,” Benjamin wrote. “Could coach Brian Callahan keep the young player with the enormous arms as Ward’s backup? Maybe. However, if the Titans trade Levis after June 1, they might save $1.6 million.
Will Levis Get More Starts Than the Other Backups for the Lions?
If the Lions think they can resolve Levis’ obvious problems, he may potentially tempt them if they’re searching for a cheap trade option to add to their quarterback competition.
Levis’ tenure in Tennessee has been tainted by disappointment. Midway through his rookie season in 2023, the No. 33 overall pick made it to the field, but in nine starts, he was unable to provide more than fleeting glimpses of his big-arm ability, finishing 58.4% of his throws for 1,808 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Although Levis was projected to start Week 1 in 2024, which raised hopes for him, he did not make the progress the Titans had hoped for. while throwing 12 picks to 13 touchdowns and fumbling at least once in nine of his 12 appearances, he continued to be a turnover-prone player while improving his completion percentage (63.1%). He was eventually benched by the Titans.
The Titans ultimately chose to choose Ward as their new starter and put Levis on the back burner after obtaining the No. 1 pick. However, another club, like the Lions, could believe that Levis’ tenacity and cannon arm have enough potential to be a risk.
A club that acquires Levis would have two more years of contract control over the former second-round choice with cap hits that never surpass $3.1 million overall, since he has two seasons remaining on his four-year, $9.54 million rookie contract, according to Over the Cap. Although the cost of the transaction is another issue, the Titans probably won’t want to pay a high price for a guy they benched in 2024 and replaced with a first overall selection.
Will Levis: Is It Worth It for the Lions to Trade for Him in 2025?
