All offseason, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell insisted they needed to add more competition to the quarterback room. So when they opted to re-sign Nate Sudfeld as the team’s primary backup behind Jared Goff, there was some warranted skepticism. Yes, they ended up drafting Hendon Hooker in the third round, but given that the team sees 2023 as a redshirt year for the rookie, he does little to improve the room this year.
After signing Sudfeld, Holmes maintained that the backup quarterback was added competition, and he was one of just a three quarterbacks they were targeting in free agency.