Lions have new competition for a QB prospect they've been linked to

The Detroit Lions have their franchise quarterback in Jared Goff, but it never hurts to bring in a young QB in the draft.

In January, during the Shrine Bowl, Mike Payton of A to Z Sports reported that the Lions "spent a lot of time talking with Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King after his throwing session." This could mean the Lions are interested in him, or they could be asking him about one of his teammates, such as wide receiver Eric Rivers or offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge.

If the Lions are interested in King, it appears they'll have competition as the QB has visited the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Atlanta would be familiar territory for the Georgia Tech product, given his years playing in the city for the Yellow Jackets.

Both teams would be interesting destinations as the Falcons just signed Tua Tagovailoa two years after drafting Michael Penix, Jr. high in the first round in 2024. Meanwhile, the Panthers are riding high after a surprise playoff berth, led by former #1 overall pick Bryce Young. However, neither team's starting QB role feels locked in for the foreseeable future, so developing a rookie behind them makes perfect sense.

There are fewer questions at QB for the Lions, as Goff continues to bring stability, filling the stat sheet with passing yards and touchdowns. He's in the middle of his prime. Behind him, on the other hand, is where the uncertainty at the position lies.

Currently, the Lions only employ Teddy Bridgewater behind Goff. The Hendon Hooker project wound up as a failure, and Kyle Allen left to sign with the Bills. Goff carries this QB room, but he also turns 32 this upcoming season with at least two more years remaining on his current deal. Even if the goal isn't to find an heir for Goff, adding more depth is necessary.

What makes King so appealing to teams?

Haynes has never been considered a top of the class prospect, with initial expectations being that he would be a late-round pick or an un-drafted free agent signing. There's also been plenty of discourse about him converting to a hybrid Taysom Hill-type role.

That wouldn't be all too surprising for the Lions, in that case, as head coach Dan Campbell was previously a tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints, where Hill played.

Those early projections didn't stop King from impressing at the NFL Combine, posting a 40-yard dash of 4.46 seconds. That may only be the second-best time for a QB in this class, behind Arkansas' Taylen Green and his 4.36, but it still goes down as the fifth fastest for a QB prospect at the Combine in the past 20 years.

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Speed isn't everything. Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson ran just a hair faster than King, and he lost his job to Daniel Jones and could be traded in the near future. But King still posted impressive RAS numbers, with an overall athletic score of 9.61 out of 10, which is good for the 44th best among QBs from 1987 to present. His only knock seems to be his height and weight. It may not be Richardson's 10.00 RAS score, but no one is going to question King's athleticism.

King is older than most QB prospects, having turned 25 in January, but it's easy to see why teams may be interested in King. He's experienced, knowledgeable, fast, and athletic. He brings flexibility for teams looking for creative wrinkles to their offense.

King remains one of the most intriguing QB prospects in this upcoming draft, and teams will continue to take notice of him after his Combine performance. Expect to see more visits for him in the coming weeks. Whether or not the Lions will be one of those teams will be very telling, and something to monitor leading up to the 2026 Draft.