Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions.
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The Detroit Lions, according to a report from A to Z Sports, is looking at a "winning" quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft.
While the Detroit Lions signed veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater during the NFL offseason, they could still use some assurance in their quarterback room. Franchise quarterback Jared Goff, thank God, has remained healthy since joining the team in March of 2021, but if he gets injured for the longer term, the team needs a more solid quarterback room and one they can rely on for weeks or possibly even months.
So, who’s available? With the high price of free agency quarterbacks, the Lions may snag someone in the NFL draft. Or, they may also decide to really get creative and take someone who didn’t make the draft.
Mike Payton at A to Z Sports has reported that the Detroit Lions spent “a lot of time talking with Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King after his throwing session” back in January, and Payton thinks he would be an apt backup quarterback for Goff.
Georgia Tech Quarterback Haynes King May Finally Be the Answer to a Jared Goff Backup
In a Thursday, April 9 feature for A to Z Sports, Mike Payton names King as one of the “best guys the Lions can steal after the 2026 NFL draft” in a quiet signing.
“Let’s talk about the guys who are not likely to get drafted, but could be signed by the Lions after the draft,” he states in the piece.
On King, Payton says that this Georgia Tech standout gives the Lions the possibility of “having their own version of Taysom Hill, and that is exactly what King could be for the Lions. I’m talking about a practice squad guy you can elevate against certain teams and run some trick plays with.”
Payton adds that King has the ability to “move on his feet” and can “catch the ball” and throw. “This would be fun,” Payton adds. “He also has some premium backup upside.”
For what it’s worth, Payton also picks a Michigan player for the Detroit Lions who likely won’t be selected in the draft in linebacker Jimmy Rolder. “He’s very instinctive and reactive, and if he had more playing time at Michigan, we could be talking about a guy who would get drafted,” Payton states. But, on the downside, he only has one year as a starter.
Haynes King’s NFL Draft Profile Shows Why He May Be a Good Fit for the Detroit Lions
King’s official NFL draft profile calls the player “a long-legged, dual-threat quarterback who displayed admirable resilience in becoming a productive, winning player after suffering through unmet expectations at Texas A&M.”
Lions fans will like that he’s being called a “grit-and-guts passer,” but his profile also warns that he has “subpar footwork and mechanics.” But, on the good side, “he finds ways to make plays when needed. He’s not nearly the passer he needs to be for the pro game, but his talent as a runner and mental toughness could give a boost to his chances.”
So, King would be an interesting pick for the Lions after the 2026 NFL draft. He wouldn’t have much experience, but over time, he could be molded into a decent backup for Goff.