Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
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Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 30, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions brought back a familiar face to back up Jared Goff for the upcoming season, ending their project of finding a successor.
One insider warns that the team should stay the course with that project, not reaching for a quarterback who has been touted as another potential heir apparent to Goff.
Lions Warned to Stay Away From Drew Allar
SI.com writer Christian Booher warned the Lions that it would be a “mistake” to draft Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who has been floated as a potential option to develop behind Goff as an eventual successor.
Booher suggested that the Lions could consider drafting a young quarterback, especially with only veteran Teddy Bridgewater as the only other signal-caller behind Goff.
“The Lions could be in the market for a young quarterback in this year’s draft, with Teddy Bridgewater back as the backup behind Jared Goff,” Booher wrote. “Those are the only two quarterbacks who are currently on the roster, and as a result the Lions could see some value in adding young depth.”
But Allar would be too much of an investment, Booher warned.
“Because Bridgewater is back, the Lions can afford to be picky about which quarterback they elect to take and shouldn’t feel pressured to reach for a passer who doesn’t fit their scheme,” Booher wrote. “Allar is an intriguing quarterback prospect based on traits, but had just one year of solid production in his time at Penn State.”
There are some other concerns that make Allar a difficult pick, he added.
“Allar could develop into a solid prospect, but the Lions should be wary of some of the accuracy inconsistencies he had as well as the injury concern he has after suffering a season-ending ankle injury last season,” Booher wrote.
The Lions had attempted a quarterback development project in the past, drafting Hendon Hooker in the third round in 2023. But after spending most of his rookie season rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in his final season at Tennessee, Hooker failed to find a foothold with the Lions.
The Lions eventually demoted Hooker to No. 3 as they signed the veteran Bridgewater, eventually parting ways with Hooker prior to the start of the 2025 season.
Another Destination for Drew Allar
Allar could find himself in a more favorable position than Detroit, where Goff is still under contract for several seasons with no sign that he will relinquish the starting job anytime soon. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. suggested that Allar would land with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round, giving the team an eventual replacement for Aaron Rodgers if he returns.
“OK, the QB board is finally lining up for the Steelers. Allar is coming off that ankle injury, but he has upside,” Kiper wrote. “And he has the size we’ve seen under center in Pittsburgh; at 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, his frame reminds of Ben Roethlisberger.
“If Aaron Rodgers is back, Allar can learn from a legend. If not, he could potentially compete with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.”