For much of the pre-draft process, it has been widely assumed that four quarterbacks will be taken in the first round. The next highest-rated passer, Hendon Hooker, could increase that number to five.
The Tennessee product had a promising 2022 season cut short by an ACL tear, which will keep him sidelined for at least part of his rookie campaign. That, along with his age (25), has hurt his stock to the point that many see him as a second-round prospect. Hooker has met with a number of teams across the Day 1 order, however, and the Raiders are one squad which came away impressed with him.
ESPN’s Matt Miller confirms that Hooker is gathering steam to be picked in the first round. He cites multiple scouts who believe he can safely be penciled into the Day 1 order, with one prediction even connecting him to the Commanders at No. 16. Washington is committed to Sam Howell as their starter, and they have signed Jacoby Brissett as an experienced backup. While teams set to pick later in the round could therefore be better fits, it may not come as much a surprise if one of them elects to add Hooker compared to earlier in the offseason.
Here are some other notes from the same ESPN piece:
- Both Miller and colleague Jordan Reid are in line with the prevailing thought in league circles that the Texans will not use the second overall pick on a quarterback. Recent reports have increasingly pointed to Houston preferring a defensive prospect to any quarterback other than Bryce Young, who is widely expected to go first overall. Miller adds that Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. is the name “most often connected” to the second pick – something which goes against previous reports listing fellow edge rusher Tyree Wilson as the favorite for GM Nick Caserio and Co. In any case, the Texans (who also hold the 12th pick) will certainly be a team to watch in the early going on Thursday, as their QB situation may not be addressed on Day 1.
- Reid names Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents and TCU guard Steve Avila as players who could find their way into the back of the first round. The latter delivered strong performances both in the run game and in pass protection during the Horned Frogs’ run to the national title game and is among the top interior linemen in the 2023 class. Per Reid, both the Cowboys and Saints have their eye on Avila. Both Dallas and New Orleans used first-round picks (Tyler Smith and Trevor Penning, respectively) to bolster their offensive fronts last year, but Avila could be an immediate starter for whichever team adds him late on Day 1 or early on Day 2.
Tennessee Titans may want to pull an Aidan Hutchinson to Detroit move and add a “hometown” guy to the roster. Hendon is talented and would be in a perfect position to sit behind Tannehill this year and learn the new Tim Kelly system. Not saying they will draft him but its not a bad fit imo.
I was thinking the same thing with TEN- but not at 11. Maybe they trade back and get a pick in the 20s and 1 in the 30s and take Hooker + Jalin Hyatt or the OT whose name escapes me
Robert Kraft was interested in Hooker but then found out he was a football player, so…
“Washington is COMMITTED to some rando they picked in the mid rounds last year and played exactly one game as their starting quarterback” is a sentence that explains so much about that franchise.
Educate yourself
If you watched football you would understand Sam Howell isn’t “some rando.” Not saying he’s a franchise guy but he will be very solid for them this year if given the chance. I second that you need to educate yourself
Why is being 25 such a negative? I could see if he was 28 like Weeden, but 25? Are teams super concerned about the 2034 season?
Agreed. Hooker can move, but he’s going to be doing his damage as a passer if he works out. That type of quarterback can play forever in today’s day and age.The thing with him is that he can use a pro style system that more reads and check downs, in my opinion. Any team that drafts him and puts him in a simple one or two read scheme is going to waste his potential. If that’s their goal, those teams should just draft one of the less polished and more physically talented quarterbacks instead and try to use those advantages for that type of system.
Tennessee is planning on tanking this year in order to get one of the two can’t miss QBs in the 2024 draft class. My guess is they go for a lineman or tight end with their first pick.