Hendon Hooker

QB Notes: Hooker, Dolphins, Watson, Draft

July 13th, 2023 at 3:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions added one of the draft’s most talked-about quarterbacks in Hendon Hooker. The third-rounder is rehabbing the ACL tear which ended his college career, and 2023 is not expected to see him on the field much, if at all.

Hooker has been making progress in his recovery, however, and he indicated last month that he is ahead of schedule. Detroit has no need to rush the Tennessee alum, with veteran Jared Goff in place and high expectations for the offense as a whole after last year’s performance. Hooker remains on a positive track to be available at some point during the year.

The 25-year-old said that he is “progressing very well,” via Cora Hall of the Knoxville News Sentinel. The Lions are not thought to be seeking an addition to their QB room, pointing further to Hooker being available if need be, perhaps as early as the fall. His recovery will be worth watching during training camp and the preseason.

Here are some other quarterback-related notes:

Plenty of attention will be focused on the pivot position during the season for the Dolphins, given the health uncertainty surrounding Tua Tagovailoa. The backup spot is up for grabs this summer, with 2022 second-rounder Skylar Thompson and free agent signing Mike White vying for the QB2 role. The former “appears to have the early lead” in the competition, per Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network. Thompson made two starts to close out the regular season, and was in place for the team’s narrow playoff loss to the Bills. Moving on from veteran Teddy Bridgewater, Miami inked White to a two-year, $8MM deal. That investment was larger than the team anticipated they would make, and it is noteworthy White could be third in the pecking order heading into training camp. Beasley notes that the Dolphins’ Week 1 backup may not yet be on the current roster, and Bridgewater is one of a few veterans still on the open market.
Deshaun Watson‘s 11-game suspension made his debut Browns campaign a shortened one, and his brief stint at the end of the season was far from the Pro Bowl level of production he has demonstrated earlier in his career. During his first full offseason in Cleveland, though, the returns have been impressive. Watson drew positive reviews for his work in the spring in addressing the issues most prevalent in his 2022 play, as noted by Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan. A step forward from the 27-year-old – along with the Browns’ re-tooled receiver room – would go a long way in helping Cleveland return to the postseason and justifying the team’s enormous investment (in both trade capital and finances) in him.
The 2024 draft class is headlined by a few highly-touted passers, and it comes as no surprise that USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye are receiving the most attention at the top of the board. The pair are thought to be in a QB tier of their own entering the college season, as detailed by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Williams won the Heisman trophy in 2022 and has drawn comparisons to Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Trevor Lawrence with respect to how he is rated as an NFL prospect. Maye, meanwhile, finds himself behind Williams in summer rankings, but trainer Jordan Palmer (one of the evaluators with whom Breer discussed the top QB prospects) stated that he would be the No. 1 option at the position in most drafts. Wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. has been named as a possible contender for the top pick in April, but Williams and Maye likely represent the favorites for that distinction heading into the fall.

Lions Content With QB Room; Latest On Hendon Hooker

June 9th, 2023 at 11:08am CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions are set atop the depth chart at the quarterback position for this season, but the injury to rookie Hendon Hooker could leave them thin with respect to backup options at the start of the campaign. Despite that, an addition under center should not be expected at this time.

Detroit has Goff on the books for the next two years, but he is only due guranteed money for 2023, leading to questions about his long-term future in the Motor City. The Lions have given thought to extending the former No. 1 pick, though, so attention is currently focused on the team’s backup and third-string options while Hooker recovers from ACL surgery.

The Tennessee product will occupy one of those spots on the depth chart when healthy, but for now the only other two passers in place are Nate Sudfeld and Adrian Martinez. The former was re-signed after spending last season in Detroit, while the latter joined the team as an undrafted rookie. Each have received a vote of confidence from offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

“I love the room right now,” Johnson said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (subscription required). “There’s a great camaraderie in there and I think that’s really important when you define that backup quarterback position. It’s not only a guy that can go in and win games, but for the majority of the season, if all things go right, he’s there to support that starter… We have that right now, not only with Nate and Hendon and Adrian.”

Hooker’s ACL tear hurt his draft stock and helped lead to his drop to the third round in this year’s draft. Head coach Dan Campbell has already deemed 2023 a redshirt season for the 25-year-old, despite the expectation that he will be able to suit up at some point during his rookie campaign. On that point, Hooker is continuing to make progress during his rehab, and indicated that he is currently ahead of schedule.

The former Volunteer has resumed throwing, as detailed by Birkett, though it remains uncertain at this point if Hooker will be able to take part in training camp next month. Considering he suffered the injury in November, a return to full health by July would be quite impressive. Regardless of Hooker’s recovery timeline, though, the Lions are unlikely to be in the market for added depth at the QB spot in the coming weeks.

“The truth really comes out, I believe, when you have the bullets flying for real, which we can’t have right now,” Johnson added. “So, the training camp will tell us a lot about where we’re at behind Jared, but so far, [I] feel really good about that room.”

Lions Sign Hendon Hooker; QB Not Expected To Play In 2023

May 12th, 2023 at 9:56am CST by Adam La Rose

Along with the previously-reported deals for offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal and wide receiver Antoine Green, the Lions announced on Friday that they have signed quarterback Hendon Hooker to his four-year rookie contract.

The Tennessee alum was one of the wild cards in this year’s draft class, given his productive time with the Volunteers. An ACL tear which ended his final college season, along with his age (25) were factors which worked against him at the draft, and they led to his slide down the board to No. 68 overall. It was at that point in the third round that the Lions selected him, leading to questions about starter Jared Goff‘s long-term prospects with the franchise.

In the immediate future, however, the latter (who was made aware of the Hooker selection in advance) is secure atop the QB depth chart. Hooker’s recovery from the ACL injury, along with his acclimation to the pro game in general (something of particular importance given the unique Tennessee scheme he is coming from) is expected to keep him sidelined for the 2023 campaign despite positive reports on the former front.

“Really, this is a redshirt year for him,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Hooker on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “He’s got to get this leg right first and then he’ll learn under Jared, and then let’s see what happens. If he can eventually become your two or maybe down the road, later on, it’s more than that, but it’s going to be a long time.”

Sitting out the first year of his rookie pact will make the age factor even more prominent in evaluations and expectations of Hooker, though Campbell recently stated that his age was not a detriment to the team’s willingness to draft him as a potential Goff successor. With the latter on the books for two more seasons, a patient approach could prove to be a fruitful one for Detroit.

The Lions are considering an extension for Goff, however, which could delay Hooker’s opportunity to ascend to the QB1 spot. Given the team’s success on offense in 2022 with Goff at the helm, a repeat performance this season could leave Detroit with an interesting decision to make under center with respect to their setup for 2024 and beyond. In any case, that season is the earliest in which appearances from Hooker can be expected.

NFC North Notes: Hooker, Bears, OL, Packers

May 9th, 2023 at 4:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hendon Hooker‘s age (25) likely served as one of the factors for his fall into Round 3. The ACL tear the Tennessee product sustained in November undoubtedly led to him tumbling out of the second round, his widely viewed floor. The Lions now have a developmental quarterback who, despite being drafted seven years after Jared Goff, is barely three years younger than the Detroit starter. Dan Campbell did not view Hooker’s age as a major issue.

“We did go into this offseason saying that we wanted to bring in some competition at quarterback,” Campbell said during an appearance on Green Light with Chris Long podcast (h/t Pro Football Talk). “We didn’t know exactly where that might be, who that would be at the time, but we did like Hooker. We knew he was coming off the injury, but there was something about him that was appealing. He’s very mature; he looks the part; he’s got a big arm. H’s just got to learn to play in the NFL. He’s a pro, now, and I like the fact that he was older. We all kind liked the fact that he was older. I think you want your quarterback to be more mature.”

The Lions have begun discussions on a Goff extension. For now, the third-year Detroit starter is tied to his Rams-constructed deal that runs through 2024. Although Hooker should not be viewed as an heir apparent just yet, his rookie deal runs through 2026. Here is the latest from the NFC North:

The Bears are set to hold a center competition between Cody White hair and Lucas Patrick. GM Ryan Poles said he is comfortable with either the longtime guard — who began his NFL career as a center — or the 2022 free agency pickup at center, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com tweets. Whitehair, 31 in July, has started 107 games for the Bears, who drafted him in the 2016 second round. He spent the first three seasons of his career at center and has been on the radar to move since the Nate Davis free agent signing. A two-year Packers starter, Patrick started only five Bears games during an injury-plagued 2022 season.
Chicago will also move Teven Jenkins from right guard to left guard, Cronin adds (on Twitter), to accommodate Davis. The free agent pickup worked as the Titans’ starting right guard from 2019-22. Jenkins will soon move to a fourth O-line position. The Bears tried him at both tackle spots and dangled him in trade talks last year, but they saw the 2021 second-rounder show promise at guard last season. The other new Bears full-timer up front last season, Braxton Jones, is not moving from left tackle. Despite the addition of first-rounder Darnell Wright, Bears O-line coach Chris Morgan said (via Cronin) the team will keeping Jones at left tackle going into training camp. Wright logged more starts at right tackle (27) than left tackle (13) at Tennessee.
Set to hold their rookie minicamp later this week, the Lions will arrange for XFL return man Darrius Shepherd to try out. The XFL announced Shepherd, who also caught 48 passes for 519 yards with the St. Louis BattleHawks this season, will attend the Lions’ rookie camp. The 27-year-old wideout, a former UDFA out of North Dakota State, played for the Packers from 2019-20 but did not see NFL game action over the past two years.
One of the signees from this year’s International Pathway Program, the Packers‘ Kenneth Odumegwu, has never played organized football, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic tweets. The program, which expanded to two divisions (NFC North, AFC West) for the first time this year, provides an extra practice squad spot for an international player.

Colts Investigating Potential Tampering Over Commanders’ Andrew Luck Inquiry

May 8th, 2023 at 9:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

9:47pm: Washington is not believed to have contacted Luck, his father (former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck) or his uncle, who has served an agent figure, according to Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. The Colts are seeking to confirm if an inquiry emerged through an intermediary. Despite the report of the Commanders contacting Luck emerging a year ago, Irsay appears to be pursuing this in earnest now.

12:46pm: The Commanders are firmly committed to Sam Howell as their starting quarterback in 2023, but they faced a pressing need at the position last offseason. That ultimately led the team to make an interesting – and perhaps controversial – inquiry.

Washington made a wide-ranging effort to secure a veteran signal-caller in 2022, and that included talks with the Colts over two quarterbacks. One was Carson Wentz – whom the Commanders ultimately acquired via trade – and the other was Andrew Luck. Conversations concerning the latter were very brief and didn’t make a difference with respect to his lack of a playing future, but they re-surfaced recently and caught the attention of the Colts.

ESPN’s John Keim – who detailed the Luck-centered discussions last March – referenced those talks this past weekend in a piece detailing the Commanders’ confidence in Howell, their 2022 fifth-rounder. The specifics regarding Luck inquiries could reveal whether or not tampering occurred, something Colts owner Jim Irsay acknowledged in response to the Washington news coming up again.

“If any NFL Team attempted to contact Andrew Luck [or any associate of him]… to play for their Franchise,” Irsay wrote, ” it would be a clear Violation of the League’s Tampering Policy” (Twitter link).

Luck has been retired since 2019, but three years remained on his contract when he made the surprising decision to walk away from the game. The 33-year-old’s pact tolled, and as a result the Colts still hold his rights, as detailed by Keim’s colleague Stephen Holder. Indianapolis would thus need to be made aware of any attempts made by other teams to lure him out of retirement, though that remains all but certain not to happen. Luck is focused on his post-football life and is not eyeing a return to playing.

Holder adds that the Colts are currently “unclear about the nature of the conversations” Washington had regarding Luck, and are “seeking to learn more about what exactly transpired and whether any tampering occurred.” While that takes place, Washington will continue to move forward with Howell in place as Wentz’s successor, after the team made the expected move of releasing the latter following a disappointing one-and-done campaign in the nation’s capital.

Interestingly, Keim notes that Washington would have considered selecting Hendon Hooker in this year’s draft had he still been available by their third-round pick. That wasn’t the case, so the Commanders remain set with Howell and veteran backup Jacoby Brissett as their top two signal-callers. It will be interesting to monitor what developments, if any, take place after the Colts’ investigation into their Luck inquiries is completed.

Lions Contemplating Jared Goff Extension

May 2nd, 2023 at 12:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

After the Lions drafted one of the more high-profile quarterbacks in this year’s class, questions were raised regarding the long-term future of Jared Goff in Detroit. A new deal keeping him in place could be on the horizon, though.

During an appearance on 97.1 WXYT-FM, general manager Brad Holmes confirmed that extension talks have begun between the team and Goff’s representatives. “Yeah, we’ve had internal dialogue there,” Holmes said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “We’ve had dialogue with his agent and we’re in a good place right now.”

Goff, 28, earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 for his impressive performance in guiding the Lions to a late-season push for a playoff spot. The former first overall pick posted his highest passer rating since 2018, and went nine straight games to close out the campaign without throwing an interception. However, he is only under contract for two more seasons (at cap hits of $30.975MM and $31.975MM), and the absence of guarantees in 2024 would make it easy for the team to move on that year.

For that reason, many have pointed to this season as being Goff’s last in the Motor City. Prior to the draft, no talks had taken place regarding an extension, which seemed to leave the door open to an eventual successor being drafted. The Lions did indeed add a signal-caller, selecting Hendon Hooker in the third round after a somewhat surprising fall down the board. The Tennessee product generated first-round buzz but was expected to hear his name called no later than the second round.

Hooker is coming off a torn ACL which will limit his availability as a rookie. That will hinder his acclimation to the pro game, something which is of particular concern considering his age (25) upon arrival in the NFL. Holmes confirmed that the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year will essentially have a redshirt campaign as the No. 3 quarterback in 2023.

“Obviously he’ll be a rookie and he’s going to have to transition into playing in a different type of scheme, but we’re really excited about his upside, so how NFL ready are a lot of quarterbacks that you acquire?” Holmes added. “And that’s just part of the normal development process and again, just a testament of I think we have the right situation for him, just to come and sit back, see how Jared and [backup] Nate [Sudfeld] do things and just develop.”

Expectations will be raised for the Lions’ offense, which added running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round – later than they were willing to draft him – this season. Another strong campaign from Goff could make his financial situation even more interesting (and the team’s decision with him more difficult), especially with his potential replacement now in the fold.

Lions Draft QB Hendon Hooker At No. 68

April 28th, 2023 at 8:33pm CST by Ely Allen

Hendon Hooker generated buzz as a possible late-first-round pick, but the Tennessee quarterback fell out of Round 2. The Lions will stop his fall, selecting him at No. 68 overall.

Detroit moved down twice in Round 2, sliding back to from No. 55 to No. 63 and back to No. 68. They now have a unique developmental quarterback set to work behind Jared Goff. Hooker, however, spent six years in college and is going into his age-25 season. He is also coming off an ACL tear sustained in November.

After four years at Virginia Tech, Hooker transferred to Tennessee to take over after the departure of Jarrett Guarantano. A breakout season saw Hooker throw for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns to just three interceptions, adding 616 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He utilized his extra COVID year of eligibility to return in 2022. Playing in two fewer games due to the ACL tear that ended his final year early, Hooker threw for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions, adding 430 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

His knee might not be the only concern health-wise. A potential heart condition was discovered when undergoing tests after a positive COVID test, according to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports. The condition was determined to be a “false alarm” as a result of a procedure, but Hooker later suffered a convulsive episode that he blamed on medication from the heart procedure.

Looking past all that, Hooker was dominant at Tennessee. He took advantage of the quarterback-friendly offense for a masterfully efficient 58 touchdowns to five interceptions. He has a strong arm and touch that makes him a phenomenal deep ball passer. He didn’t rely on it in college, but he has an instinctive ability in the open field, utilizing agility, elusiveness, and toughness. Heupel lauded him as a hard worker and a strong leader, as well.

There’s a lot to like about Hooker’s long-term upside. His mental development over his collegiate career bodes well for his ability to attack the learning-curve he’ll face in the NFL. He boasts some strong tools, as well, that will come in handy when he does catch up to the professional game. As long as health is of no concern, there’s no reason that Hooker can’t develop into a starter at the NFL-level.

Hooker lands in a beautiful spot to develop with the Lions. Detroit had an impressive season behind their veteran quarterback in Goff. Goff had a resurgent season last year but still holds a massive $30.98MM cap hit in 2023 and a $31.65MM cap his in 2024. If Hooker can take up the Lions offense quickly while sitting behind Goff as a rookie, Detroit may feel comfortable taking on the $5MM of dead money they would incur by releasing Goff in 2024.

If not, Goff has two years left on his contract. If the Lions are planning to transition to an offense lead by Hooker, he’ll have one to two years to get comfortable running an NFL attack. If they’re happy with Goff and plan on extending his stay in the Motor City, then they’ve acquired a strong upgrade at the backup quarterback position.

Texans Likely To Draft DE At No. 2 Overall; Latest On C.J. Stroud

April 27th, 2023 at 10:00am CST by Sam Robinson

The Davis Mills-to-Jordan Akins fourth-and-20 touchdown connection may go down as one of the more impactful plays in Texans history. That Week 18 sequence, which led to the Texans falling out of the No. 1 draft slot, ended up allowing the Panthers access to Bryce Young, a player by most accounts Houston would have taken if given the opportunity.

While the Texans attempted to trade up to No. 1 with the Bears, the team settling on a second-best quarterback option continues to look unlikely at No. 2. Houston going with either Will Anderson Jr. or Tyree Wilson is the more likely scenario compared to the team selecting C.J. Stroud at that spot, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes.

The team brought Stroud in for a pre-draft visit, attended the Ohio State prospect’s pro day, interviewed him at the Combine and, per Wilson, has spent time considering how it would obtain a quarterback after passing on one at No. 2. But the Texans drafting Stroud would be a “major surprise” at this point, according to Wilson.

Momentum has headed in this direction for weeks, with Stroud falling from potential Panthers pick at No. 1 to a player with an uncertain destination. The Texans obviously have a quarterback need, and while Wilson adds the team’s past with David Mulugheta — Deshaun Watson‘s agent and Stroud’s representative — will not determine the team’s stance on Stroud, the ex-Buckeyes starter appears likely to remain on the board at No. 3 overall. As should be expected, GM Nick Caserio (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) doubled down on Stroud’s agent not being part of the team’s decision-making.

Regarding Stroud’s potential landing spot, Wilson adds the Titans — via a trade-up with the Cardinals at No. 3 — are rumored to be exploring a move up to select him. Peter Schrager’s NFL.com mock draft projects the Titans to make that move as well.

The Titans have been viewed as Stroud fans for a bit now, and Schrager cites Mike Vrabel‘s relationship with Ohio State HC Ryan Day as one that helps Justin Fields‘ Buckeyes successor here. Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds is also believed to back Stroud, which could well lead to the Cardinals having a taker for a trade-up, as Indianapolis holds the No. 4 overall pick tonight. The Titans were mentioned weeks ago as having explored a trade into the No. 3 position; this appears to be a realistic scenario. Though, it probably will not take place until the Texans make their choice at 2.

The Texans are not expected to select Will Levis or Anthony Richardson at 2; the Texans did not host the Florida prospect on a visit. The team does have high opinion of Hendon Hooker, per Wilson, but the Tennessee prospect does not appear to be in the team’s first-round plans at either No. 2 or No. 12. The Vikings, who hold the No. 23 overall pick, have been mentioned as a potential Hooker destination. The two-year Volunteers starter, who suffered an ACL tear in November, expects to be cleared by Week 1.

An Anderson-or-Wilson decision looks to be where Houston’s process concludes. Mentioned as being open to trading down, the Texans are not expected to do so, Aaron Wilson adds. Questions about Anderson’s ceiling remain a factor here, per Aaron Wilson, who lends more credence to Tyree Wilson as being a higher-ceiling player (and a prospect who, at 271 pounds, would better fit DeMeco Ryans‘ 4-3 scheme compared to Anderson, at 253). The Texans are believed to have cleared the Texas Tech prospect, who suffered a Lisfranc fracture late in the Red Raiders’ season. Schrager mocks Anderson, whom a GM calls the “safest pick in the draft,” to Houston.

Draft Prospect QB Hendon Hooker Expected To Be Cleared By Week 1

April 26th, 2023 at 8:58pm CST by Ely Allen

University of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker has been working hard to come back from an ACL tear that he sustained in mid-November of last year. With the injury occurring so late in the year, it easily could’ve affected his availability to play in 2023, but according to Pete Thamel of ESPN, that’s not expected to be the case.

Thamel reports that every NFL team received a letter from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Hooker’s orthopedic surgeon, claiming that Hooker is “on a timeline to be fully-cleared by the first weekend of the NFL season.” The injury largely wasn’t expected to affect his draft status too much. Hooker was already drawing first-round interest and has been predicted to be selected by the end of Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft, even without the letter.

One of the reasons for this is that Hooker is projected to be a bit of a project on offense in the NFL. He has plenty of tools that will greatly assist him at the next level as an NFL quarterback, but some of the reasons for his success in Knoxville are things that won’t continue at the pro level.

For instance, Hooker played on an extremely quarterback-friendly offense as a Volunteer under Josh Heupel. The gameplan was conducive to offensive output at the college level but hasn’t been known to produce NFL-ready passers. Heupel’s offense is assumed to run largely off of predetermined targets. This is likely evidenced by the rate and speed at which Hooker was known to check the ball down. If Hooker’s first (and only) read wasn’t there, he would check the ball down.

One of the most difficult parts of playing quarterback in the NFL is reading pro defenses, not just before the snap but during the play, as well. Since Heupel’s offense didn’t promote the development of this tool for Hooker, many teams doing their research on the 25-year-old expect that there will be a learning curve for him at the next level.

Because of this expectation that Hooker will sit and learn, the knee injury was not a huge strike against him. Regardless, with the letter from Dr. ElAttrache, if any teams were worried about how soon he would be available, they can put that concern to rest.

QB Draft Notes: Patriots, Seahawks, Lions

April 25th, 2023 at 7:15pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve heard several times that the Colts have interest in Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, and Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com reiterated today that the organization is a fan of the prospect (via Pat McAfee Show on Twitter). However, one surprising suitor has emerged in the Levis sweepstakes.

According to Mike Giardi (on Twitter), the Patriots have “real interest” in Levis, While there isn’t “universal” interest in the quarterback within the organization, there are some “important folks in that building” who believe in the player’s ability and potential. Giardi also cautions that the prospect hasn’t “blown anyone away” during his workouts, a surprising remark considering Levis’ draft stock seems to be climbing each day.

While Bill Belichick and co. have a penchant for moving back in the first round, the organization would surely have to move up the board if they hope to get their hands on Levis. The Patriots are currently sitting with the No. 14 pick in the draft, and if the Colts’ interest is for real, New England would have to jump into the top-three to get their hands on the signal-caller.

That would be a shocking development after the Patriots used a first-round pick on Mac Jones only two years ago. Jones took a step back during his sophomore season in the NFL, leading some to wonder if the coaching staff could be eyeing a quarterback competition heading into training camp. While that competition was assumed to feature Jones and Bailey Zappe, the Patriots could shock the NFL world by adding another player to the mix.

More QB draft notes…

ESPN’s Todd McShay writes that he’s getting a “strong sense” that the Seahawks won’t leave the first round without a quarterback. McShay wonders if the front office could be eyeing Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Florida’s Anthony Richardson with the fifth-overall selection, noting that either prospect would make sense as a long-term developmental option behind Geno Smith. McShay also notes that the Seahawks could skip over the position at No. 5 before targeting Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker at No. 20.
As we’ve heard previously, the Titans are in the mix for a quarterback, with McShay noting that they’re contenders to trade up from No. 11 to select Stroud or Levis. If the organization is unable to pull off a trade up the board, McShay writes that the front office would likely pivot and trade back, in which case they could select Hooker later in the first round.
McShay says the Lions could be a surprising suitor for a quarterback prospect at No. 6. If Stroud does fall down the board, the writer opines that he won’t fall any further than Detroit, where he could serve as a temporary backup to Jared Goff. Meanwhile, while the Raiders previously sniffed around at a trade for Alabama’s Bryce Young, they’re unlikely to take a quarterback with the No. 7 pick, per McShay.

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