Lions On Lookout For New Backup QB As Shaun Hill Leaves Goes To Rams
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Backup quarterback Shaun Hill has left the Detroit Lions for the St. Louis Rams, inking a one-year, $1.75 million deal Wednesday, according to NFL.com.
Hill began his career in Minnesota, spent three years with San Francisco and has backed up Detroit starter Matthew Stafford since 2010. Hill played in 11 games for the Lions that year but has gotten into just four games since then.
A career backup, Hill has amassed 6,381 yards passing and an 85.9 quarterback rating.
The Lions are expected to look to the draft for Hill's replacement. CBSSports.com projects Alabama's A.J. McCarron to go in the third round, while it lists David Fales of San Jose State as being available in the fifth round. Ranked not far behind, expected to go in the sixth round, are Connor Shaw of South Carolina and Logan Thomas of Virginia Tech. Further down the list is Tajh Boyd of Clemson.
McCarron got a not-so-flattering reputation as a "game manager" at Alabama, where his accomplishments did not reflect as much on him as they should have, perhaps, because of all the talent around him. The Lions have enough weapons, however, that McCarron's style might mesh well. Stafford is more of a pocket passer than a scrambler, of course, and McCarron fits that mold as well, so a transition from Stafford to McCarron would likely go more smoothly than if the Lions chose a backup who runs more.
Detroit's third-string quarterback, Kellen Moore, had considerable success in college at Boise State but has never played in an NFL game.