Hendon Hooker

QB Draft Notes: Texans, Titans, Levis, Hooker

April 18th, 2023 at 9:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Alabama’s Bryce Young is the favorite to go No. 1 to the Panthers, and most pundits have assumed that the Texans would then select Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. However, there are some “rumblings” that the Texans could pivot away from quarterback and select someone like Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. with the second-overall pick, according to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post. One anonymous executive believes those whispers aren’t a smokescreen and questioned if Houston’s front office is even a fan of Stroud.

“Maybe it’s a smokescreen — you never know this time of year — but I really believe the Texans don’t like Stroud,” the “longtime personnel executive” told La Canfora. “I keep hearing it, and I’m inclined to believe it. The Titans are the team that really likes Stroud, and I don’t know if they would move all the way up [from the 11th pick to the second] to do it, but I’d keep an eye on that. The Texans could take Anderson or [Georgia defensive lineman Jalen] Carter, but I think they want to trade down more than anything else.”

Jim Wyatt of the Titans backs the sentiment about Tennessee’s inability to move up the draft board. The writer cites the question marks surrounding the top QB prospects, the Titans’ need at other positions, and the team’s lack of draft capital (the Titans are currently armed with only six draft selections). Of course, Wyatt adds the caveat that it’s tough to predict how new GM Ran Carthon will operate during the draft.

Texans GM Nick Caserio hinted yesterday that the organization would consider trading the No. 2 pick, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter also noting that Houston’s front office could end up keeping the pick but not selecting a signal-caller.

More QB notes leading up to the draft…

Indy has their eye on a particular QB prospect, with La Canfora noting that the Colts “covet” Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. We previously heard that the organization was targeting Levis but didn’t intend to trade up for their preferred prospect. Unfortunately for the Colts, they would need the draft board to shake out in their favor if they hope to get Levis; the team has the fourth-overall pick and may have to settle for whichever QB is still left on the board.
Speaking of, La Canfora writes that league executives believe four quarterbacks will be selected atop the draft. The Texans could throw a wrench in that plan, and the Cardinals would have to find a suitable trade partner for the third-overall pick. La Canfora adds that the expectation is that a No. 3-pick suitor would use their newfound selection on Florida QB Anthony Richardson.
The Giants recently inked Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160MM deal, but that hasn’t stopped the organization from doing their due diligence at the position. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker will visit the Giants tomorrow. The quarterback has had a busy pre-draft process, with Garafolo noting that organizations want clarity on Hooker’s recovery from a torn ACL. The Tennessee product is a fine fallback option for teams that don’t have the ammo to get one of the top-four prospects at the position; Hooker is the only other QB outside of Young/Stroud/Richardson/Levis to earn a spot in Scouts Inc.’s top-85.

NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker

April 15th, 2023 at 5:15pm CST by Ely Allen

We’ve already seen plenty of reports on the 2023 NFL Draft class’s top passing prospects. After the expected first-rounders (Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, and Kentucky’s Will Levis), nearly all other quarterback prospects aren’t expected to hear their names until Day 3 of the draft. The exception to that statement is Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, considered one of the draft’s top passers who shouldn’t be available for long, if at all, after the first 31 picks.

Hooker is one of the older quarterbacks in the draft, graduating from Dudley High School (NC) back in 2017. Considered a Top 247 player and the fifth-ranked dual-threat quarterback by 247Sports, Hooker initially committed to Virginia Tech a few weeks after receiving an offer and stuck with the Hokies despite some late flirting with Oregon.

In Blacksburg, Hooker competed with redshirt freshman Josh Jackson for the starting job at quarterback before redshirting, himself. In 2018, he would sit once again behind Kansas transfer Ryan Willis. The next year, Hooker would finally get an opportunity to start for the Hokies after a disappointing start to the season for Willis. With Hooker behind center, Virginia Tech rebounded to find their way to a bowl game thanks to Hooker’s 1,555 passing yards, 18 total touchdowns, and only two interceptions. Hooker returned as the starter in 2020 but only appeared in eight of 11 possible games. Overall, during his career with the Hokies, Hooker completed 63.1-percent of his passes for 2,894 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions over 21 total games, adding 1,033 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.

Seeking greener pastures, Hooker transferred to Tennessee with many thinking he would back up Joe Milton, the Michigan transfer who was widely expected to take over after the departure of Jarrett Guarantano. An early injury to Milton, though, opened the door for Hooker to take the reins, and Hooker didn’t look back. 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 an 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.

The late-season ACL tear obviously hurts his draft stock, but maybe not quite as much as you might think. The 25-year-old was already likely expected to need some development after playing in Josh Heupel‘s extremely quarterback-friendly offense in Knoxville. His jump in success from Virginia Tech to Tennessee could be a result of the Volunteers’ offense that included mostly play action passes that had largely predetermined targets.

The convenient offense affected his ability to make reads which led to frequent checkdowns when his initial reads weren’t there. When he didn’t immediately check down, any hint of pressure would push him out of the pocket. While finding success on rollouts and scrambles, it did lead to a worrying 39 fumbles over his college career.

Additionally, 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.

So who will take a chance on Hooker? As a bit of a project with recent health issues, it will likely be a team with a short-term or unproven situation at quarterback in 2023. Think the Commanders (Sam Howell), the Falcons (Desmond Ridder), the Colts (Gardner Minshew, Nick Foles), or the Texans (Davis Mills). The Ravens might even be a possibility with the current uncertainty surrounding Lamar Jackson.

While many expect him to fall to the second round, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see a team trade up to the back of the first round as Baltimore did with Jackson in 2018. The extra fifth-year option could prove useful if Hooker sits for a year or two. Even if that’s not how it plays out, Hooker likely won’t sit around for long into Day 2. We’ll find out in just under two weeks from now.

NFC Draft Rumors: Bucs, Commanders, 49ers, Seahawks

April 15th, 2023 at 3:18pm CST by Ely Allen

Every year, pundits and analysts debate the value of drafting a running back in first round. The Buccaneers are the latest to enter into this forum as they are reportedly considering doing just that, according to Buccaneers staff writer/reporter Brianna Dix.

The player in question for Tampa Bay is Texas running back Bijan Robinson. Robinson is far and away the consensus top running back on the board. In three years with the Longhorns, Robinson totaled 3,410 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. While not his main mode of attack, he can hurt in the passing game as well, as evidenced by his 60 catches for 805 yards and eight touchdowns over his collegiate career.

No running backs were taken in the first round of last year’s draft, with Breece Hall being the first off the board in the second round, but two years ago, we saw two running backs taken on Day 1. Despite durability being a main cause of concern for rookie rushers, Najee Harris rewarded the Steelers with a league-leading 381 touches and a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie. Travis Etienne unfortunately had to sit out his rookie season, but his debut season with the Jaguars in 2022 was nearly as impressive as Harris’s rookie year, despite only starting 12 games.

Beyond last year, we’ve seen the Chiefs move past Clyde Edwards-Helaire in favor seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco. We’ve seen a first-team All-Pro honor for Josh Jacobs in Las Vegas. We’ve seen the rollercoasters of Saquon Barkley and Sony Michel‘s careers, as well as the disappointment of Rashaad Penny‘s. The debate continues on into 2023. There has certainly been both hits and misses with first-round running backs, but where will Robinson fall in that storyline?

Here are a few other draft rumors from around the NFC:

The Commanders have made it clear that they believe in second-year quarterback Sam Howell to take over the starting job in 2023, leading many to believe that taking a passer on Day 1 is off the table. According to ESPN’s John Keim, though, if a strong prospect like Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker is still available in the second or third round, Washington may not be able to pass them up. For the first round, though, it appears that the team has done their homework on the 2023 NFL Draft’s batch of offensive linemen. Jordan Reid, also of ESPN, specifically mentions Ohio State tackle Dawand Jones as a name that has been linked to the Commanders.
The 49ers received a healthy amount of compensatory draft picks, including three third round picks. It’s a good thing, too, because without them, San Francisco’s first 2023 draft pick wouldn’t come until late in the fifth round. Surprisingly, despite needs at both offensive line and defensive back, Matt Miller of ESPN is hearing that the 49ers have done more work studying tight ends that any other team in the league. The team has lauded the depth of this year’s draft class, and Miller notes that this is a historically great tight end class. He mentions Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker, South Dakota’s Tucker Kraft, and Old Dominion’s Zack Kuntz as potential options for San Francisco at the end of Day 2 who could end up working with George Kittle in the tight end room.
The Seahawks can go in a couple of different directions in the first round with both the No. 5 and 20 picks. They may keep their eyes on the available quarterbacks, if they fall in love with any, to sit for a year or so behind Geno Smith and Drew Lock. What Miller really sees them doing is taking advantage of a potential early run of quarterbacks to nab one of the draft’s top defensive linemen like Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. or Georgia’s Jalen Carter. If they don’t like any of their options at defensive line either, Miller reports that Seattle is reportedly in love with Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Latest On Draft’s QBs: Young, Panthers, Texans, Hooker, Vikings, Richardson, Levis

April 12th, 2023 at 2:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

With each passing day, the reality of Bryce Young leading off the 2023 draft looks more likely. C.J. Stroud does not seem to be gaining momentum and looks set to be available when the Texans go on the clock at No. 2 overall. Although Stroud-to-Charlotte buzz emerged recently, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post notes the Panthers have been leaning in Young’s direction for weeks. They have not deviated from that plan, and SI.com’s Albert Breer adds Carolina sees special qualities in the 5-foot-10 passer.

Buzz regarding Frank Reich preferring the 6-3 Stroud has died down, with multiple reports last week indicating the Panthers — who hosted Young on Tuesday — are big fans of the 2021 Heisman winner. This will put the Texans to a decision; their previously reported Young meeting is on tap for today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Here is the latest from this draft’s QB crop:

Teams continue to look into Hendon Hooker, who dazzled at Tennessee before tearing an ACL in November 2022. The Texans look to have gotten a head-start with the rehabbing passer, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicating the former Virginia Tech recruit trekked to Houston for a meeting not long after the Combine (Twitter link). Hooker would be an interesting option for the Texans if they take the unexpected route and pass on a QB at 2. While the Texans’ No. 12 overall pick would be a bit early for Hooker, who turned 25 earlier this year, they hold the No. 33 overall pick as well. Of course, the team might be in a bit of trouble at QB1 this season were it to take this highly unexpected path. Case Keenum and Davis Mills are Houston’s current QBs.
It should not be assumed Hooker will drop out of Round 1, however, given the annual demand at this rather important position. Rival executives are connecting Hooker to the Vikings, La Canfora adds. Minnesota would make for an interesting landing spot, having merely restructured Kirk Cousins‘ contract — after extending him in 2020 and 2022 — this offseason. Cousins going into a contract year will put the onus on new Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to find a successor, but Hooker would make for an unusual developmental candidate due to his age. The previous Vikes regime tried to trade up for Justin Fields two years ago. Hooker’s Lions, Buccaneers and Raiders visits are this week. Detroit’s second first-round pick (No. 18) and Tampa Bay’s only Round 1 choice (No. 19) check in ahead of Minnesota’s (No. 23).
Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock draft calls for what would be a draft first: a QB-QB-QB-QB start. Part of that equation would require a team to trade into the Cardinals’ No. 3 draft slot. Arizona has received extensive interest in that pick, though some of the teams exploring a move up might be hoping Stroud falls to No. 3. A value gulf may well exist between this draft’s top two arms (Young and Stroud) and the next two options (Anthony Richardson and Will Levis), with Breer expressing doubt a team would trade to No. 3 for the Florida or Kentucky QBs. Kiper has the Titans moving up from No. 11 to No. 3 for Richardson, who displayed elite athleticism at the Combine but has just one season as a full-time starter. Similar to the Vikings’ Cousins situation, the Titans have Ryan Tannehill contracted for one more season. Trade rumors have emerged regarding the fifth-year Titan, and Ran Carthon‘s team has been connected to a trade-up.

QB Hendon Hooker To Visit Bucs, Lions

April 7th, 2023 at 9:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

The fifth-rated quarterback prospect in this year’s class is continuing to garner interest from potential NFL employers. Hendon Hooker is set to visit the Buccaneers next week, as noted (on Twitter) by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo adds that the Lions will also meet with the Tennessee product (video link).

Four signal-callers – Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson – are expected to hear their names called on Day 1 of this month’s draft. Hooker is widely seen as the next best option, with his final Volunteers campaign being cut short by an ACL tear. That injury has hurt his draft stock, though Garafolo notes that Hooker is expected to available for part of the 2023 season.

Age (25) is the other main factor which has been named as a cause for concern regarding Hooker. That has not stopped analysts from connecting him to teams like the Buccaneers. Tampa is entering the post-Tom Brady era under center, and has 2021 second-rounder Kyle Trask set to compete with veteran signing Baker Mayfield at the moment. The former has nine regular season pass attempts to his name, and the latter inked a one-year deal. Given that, many have pointed to the Bucs as a landing spot for a second-tier passer to develop over the long term.

Detroit has a known commodity in Jared Goff on the books. The former top pick is under contract for two more years, but only has guaranteed compensation in 2023 remaining. That could set up the Lions for a transition to a younger option in the near future, though Goff earned his third Pro Bowl nod in 2022 after he had a strong season leading one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses.

Tampa and Detroit own picks No. 19 and 18, respectively; the Lions are also scheduled to pick sixth overall. It would be considered a reach by many for the teams to use any of those picks to add Hooker, though they could have the option of doing so in the second round. Detroit owns the 48th pick, while the 50th belongs to Tampa Bay, although Hooker may well have come off the board by that point.

These visits follow a number of others which have previously been reported. Hooker already met with the Saints and has sit-downs planned with the Commanders and Raiders. Wherever he lands, his first NFL franchise will be well-versed in his skillset and recovery timeline, and quite possibly have faced significant competition to acquire him.

Raiders To Host C.J. Stroud, Hendon Hooker

April 6th, 2023 at 10:24am CST by Sam Robinson

It can be safely assumed the Raiders are giving strong consideration to drafting a quarterback in either the first or second round. The AFC West team will have met with each of the top five prospects at the position before the pre-draft process wraps.

The Raiders have scheduled visits with C.J. Stroud and Hendon Hooker, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer (on Twitter). Will Levis has already met with the Silver and Black, while Anthony Richardson‘s first visit will send him to Las Vegas. Bryce Young is heading to Nevada on Thursday. Hooker and Stroud will be Vegas-bound next week.

Stroud is widely considered to be out of the Raiders’ range. The latest Ohio State-developed QB standout has been frequently connected to the Panthers at No. 1 overall. Were Carolina to pass and go with Young, Houston would undoubtedly be interested at No. 2. Though, the Texans may not be fully committed to going quarterback at 2. While Josh McDaniels and Nick Caserio worked together for much of their careers, it would surprise if the Raiders were able to pull off a trade with the Texans to move up five spots. But a climb to No. 3 (the Cardinals’ slot) has been rumored.

The Raiders, who have not taken a first-round quarterback since their disastrous JaMarcus Russell choice in 2007, have built an onramp for a potential QB choice. They have Jimmy Garoppolo on a three-year deal that features barely $33MM guaranteed, and the team agreed to terms with Brian Hoyer earlier this week. The team has other needs to address with early-round draft picks, and its 2022 Davante Adams trade prevented McDaniels and Co. from making first- or second-round picks last year. But McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler were regulars at QB pro days; the team will now devote a sixth of its 30 allotted pre-draft visits to the game’s premier position.

Following ex-Buckeyes Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields, Stroud will be taken early in the first round — most likely within the top two picks. Stroud quarterbacked Ohio State into the College Football Playoff last season and led the Big Ten power in a semifinal shootout against eventual champion Georgia, throwing four touchdown passes against a dominant Bulldogs defense. Stroud threw at least 40 touchdown passes in each of his two starter seasons, though he targeted nothing but first-round wideouts (Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave), first-round prospects (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) or potential future Round 1-level talents (Marvin Harrison, Emeka Egbuka).

Las Vegas also holds this draft’s No. 38 overall pick. That could be relevant regarding Hooker, who is coming off a November ACL tear. The Tennessee prospect visited the Saints this week and will meet with the Commanders as well. New Orleans holds the Nos. 29 and 40 overall picks; Washington has picks 16 and 47. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah grades Hooker as this year’s 44th-best prospect. He is the only QB in that range and represents an interesting option for teams unable to land one of the draft’s higher-regarded arms.

Hooker finished fifth in last year’s Heisman voting, despite missing two games due to the severe injury, but laid the groundwork for Ohio State’s CFP bid by leading an upset over Alabama. Hooker is 25, which has given some teams pause, but the former Virginia Tech recruit finished his SEC career with a 58-to-5 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio. He led the Volunteers to five wins over ranked teams as a senior. Putting Hooker behind an injury-prone Garoppolo would be an interesting strategy for the Raiders, but Garoppolo staying relatively healthy would also allow for an extended Hooker developmental period.

Commanders To Host QB Hendon Hooker

April 4th, 2023 at 1:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Multiple teams out of range to grab one of this draft’s top quarterbacks are set to meet with Hendon Hooker. In addition to a Saints summit, the ex-Tennessee QB will meet with the Commanders, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.

Hooker is the only quarterback presently part of the Commanders’ visit itinerary, Albert Breer of SI.com adds (on Twitter). The rehabbing passer will head to Washington later this month. Thus far, only the Saints and Commanders have been confirmed as Hooker hosts. New Orleans brass is meeting with Hooker today.

The Commanders hold the No. 16 overall pick — 13 spots ahead of the Saints’ first draft slot — and Ron Rivera did not rule out a quarterback addition in the draft. The team has added Jacoby Brissett and offered 2022 fifth-rounder Sam Howell considerable praise, given the North Carolina product’s one NFL appearance, this offseason. While Hooker’s November ACL tear could slide him into the developmental realm, he is also 25. That is a concern for some teams, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com notes. This and the knee injury have affected the productive passer’s draft stock.

Hooker put up big numbers during both his Tennessee seasons. Over the past two years, he posted a 58-to-5 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio. The 6-foot-3 passer also topped 1,000 rushing yards over his two Volunteers campaigns. Despite his season ending a bit early, Hooker finished fifth in the 2022 Heisman voting. He completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes as a senior. The 6-foot-3 passer targeted multiple wideouts expected to be chosen fairly early — Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman — and led the Volunteers to wins over five ranked teams in 2022, including Alabama in a shootout that featured five Hooker touchdown passes.

Hooker would be an interesting addition for one of the teams not in position to draft C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis or Anthony Richardson. Teams like the Titans, Buccaneers, Saints and Commanders represent potential destinations. Excepting the Saints, who have Derek Carr signed to a deal with a $100MM practical guarantee, the rest of this lot has starters signed for just one season.

Scouts Inc. slotted four QBs inside its top 25; Hooker is the only other passer inside the top 85. Sitting at No. 67 (No. 49 on Jeremiah’s board), the former Virginia Tech recruit will be a wild card come draft weekend.

Saints To Meet With QB Hendon Hooker

April 3rd, 2023 at 11:34am CST by Sam Robinson

This year’s draft class is widely expected to produce four first-round quarterback draftees, and it could follow 2021 in seeing three taken in the event’s first three picks. Beyond the Bryce Young–C.J. Stroud–Anthony Richardson–Will Levis contingent, however, this draft class could produce another early-round QB pick.

Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker could be a candidate to either land in the second round or sneak into the first. The Saints will look into Hooker during a Tuesday visit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. In sending the Broncos Sean Payton‘s rights, the Saints hold the No. 29 overall pick in this year’s draft. They traded their own — No. 10 — to the Eagles before last year’s draft.

Transferring from Virginia Tech in 2021, Hooker put up big numbers in both his Tennessee seasons. Over the past two years, he posted a 58-to-5 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio. The 6-foot-3 passer also topped 1,000 rushing yards over his two Volunteers campaigns. However, an ACL tear halted Hooker’s senior season after 11 games.

Teams will understandably be leery about Hooker’s health and his age; he turned 25 in January. But the experienced prospect could be a sleeper addition for a team willing to use a high pick here. He led Tennessee to a win over Alabama, accounting for 441 yards in that shootout and sporting a 5-0 TD-INT ratio against the SEC power. The Vols beat five ranked teams with Hooker at the controls last season.

Hooker could also appeal to teams that do not have an early pick. The Buccaneers, Commanders and Titans come to mind here. The Saints certainly profiled as a team that could have used a quarterback prospect in 2021 or 2022, but this offseason moved that need to the back burner.

The Saints will meet with Hooker despite having two veteran quarterbacks — Derek Carr and Jameis Winston — on their roster. The team should not be expected to deviate from its Carr plan for a bit; the ex-Raiders starter is locked into $70MM and can up that total to $100MM if he is on New Orleans’ roster next March. Winston, however, accepted a pay cut and is only signed through 2023.

The Saints taking a quarterback in the first round would surprise, given their Carr investment, but the team holds the No. 40 overall pick as well. The team has a longstanding history of addressing other needs early in drafts. New Orleans has not taken a quarterback in the first or second round since selecting Archie Manning second overall in 1971.