From a Heisman favourite and first-round lock to a Day 3 choose, the opinions and projections for Hendon Hooker stay as vast because the Tennessee offense. With only a week till the opening of the 2023 NFL Draft, Hooker stays the most important variance choose of all of them.
Hendon Hooker’s Curler Coaster 2022 Season Put Him on the NFL Radar
No actuality present can match the drama, chaos, and storylines the NFL Draft can produce. And as traditional, the quarterbacks are the principle characters, every with their quirks and backstory. Is Bryce Younger too small? Can C.J. Stroud be a playmaker? Is Anthony Richardson an excessive amount of of a mission? Is Will Levis the following big-arm bust? But, Hooker may need much more questions, regardless of not sharing the identical highlight.
Opinions will differ concerning the quarterback place, and Hooker is a primary instance. In 24 video games with the Tennessee Volunteers, Hooker threw for six,080 yards and 58 touchdowns towards solely 5 interceptions. He accomplished 69% of his passes and added one other 10 scores and 1,046 yards on the bottom. However what put him on the map was his 2022 season.
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Hooker was the Heisman Trophy front-runner for almost all of the season. He led the nation in yards per try (9.5), threw two interceptions over 11 begins, and was a top-10 passer in completion share, throwing for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns as a part of a high-powered offense below Josh Heupel.
Given how famished the NFL followers and groups had been for a consultant QB class, in contrast to the 2022 group, Hooker shortly noticed himself bounce from not simply into the top-50 vary however into the primary spherical and ultimately was considered as a possible top-10 choose purchase some.
Nonetheless, Hooker’s season noticed an unlucky finish when he suffered a torn ACL in a 63-38 loss to South Carolina. Hooker’s scintillating marketing campaign ended, and with it, the prospect to cement himself as the following QB behind Younger and Stroud. That knee harm is probably going why we’re having these conversations proper now.
Did Hooker’s Damage Value Him a Likelihood To Be Thought of Among the many Prime Group of QBs?
I don’t suppose there’s any debate Hooker’s knee harm considerably impacted his draft inventory. Pre-draft medical evaluations are important in immediately’s age, and so they can begin a slide. Have a look at 2010 No. 1 general choose Sam Bradford as a cause groups ought to be cautious concerning medicals.
The Rams invested an $86 million contract that included a then-record $50 million in ensures earlier than he ever performed a snap. Bradford said his shoulder was healed, however he was by no means the identical participant that he’d been at Oklahoma.
No staff desires to be the one to pay a excessive premium for an injury-impacted participant. Maybe most critically, nobody desires to try this when a quarterback is concerned. Thankfully, in Hooker’s case, whereas he couldn’t take part within the NFL Mix or Senior Bowl, his medicals had been optimistic, and he had an opportunity to elucidate his restoration course of in individual, hopefully easing the issues of some potential suitors.
“I don’t suppose they might anticipate my leg to be as robust as it’s now, 100% weight bearing by Week 6, doing lunges and squats,” Hooker mentioned from the Senior Bowl apply subject in early February.
“My physician … has completed an amazing job speaking how my restoration ought to be and the way I ought to handle myself,” Hooker continued. “I’ll be good to go by camp time, able to compete, be higher than ever.”
However had the proverbial injury been completed? To sum up the reply, sure. Former NFL QB Ryan Leaf even said, “If he [Hooker] by no means tore his ACL, he could be within the high group.”
Because of the ACL tear, he would possibly must both miss or be very restricted in his rookie season. However that isn’t set in stone.
Relying on how risk-averse a staff is, Hooker could be off their board routinely. Why would you spend a choose on somebody who may not play the primary 12 months and will probably be properly into the second half of their profession by the point their rookie contract expires? Whereas the logic is smart, a number of outstanding names don’t consider that might be an clever resolution.
Hendon Hooker Is a Higher Worth within the First Spherical Than within the Second
Huh? That doesn’t make sense. If somebody comes off the board at No. 57 in comparison with No. 18, the mathematics says they have to be a greater worth, proper? I’m sorry, nevertheless it’s not that straightforward.
Given the probability Hooker may doubtlessly miss or be restricted in his rookie 12 months, by choosing him within the first spherical, groups get that further 12 months because of the fifth-year choice supplied to first-round rookies. This is similar line of pondering as ESPN’s Todd McShay, and he stays bullish on Hooker based mostly on the year-over-year improvement.
“With Hendon coming off the November ACL surgical procedure after the harm, sure, he’s 25 years previous and turns 26 in January of his rookie 12 months. However seeing his enchancment year-over-year and realizing he’s going to have a studying curve from that scheme at Tennessee, I believe he can use a 12 months,” McShay mentioned.
“And sure, he could be 26 going into his first 12 months as a starter, presumably. However to me, I might draft him within the first for those who’re a staff like Minnesota. Or for those who’re Seattle and also you’re making an attempt to commerce again in. Since you’re going to get that fifth 12 months. However my level is had they taken him late within the first spherical as an alternative of taking him No. 53 general, they might have one other further 12 months.”
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CBS Sports activities analyst and former QB Danny Kanell doesn’t really feel the ACL harm will find yourself enjoying as huge of an element as others.
“I get the priority with the harm, however right here’s why it doesn’t make sense to me. Due to his ACL, he’ll miss an offseason. However I don’t suppose it issues that a lot for a quarterback who’s as vivid as they get. Plus, he’s a quarterback who doesn’t depend on his legs. He makes use of them. And so far as the age concern, why does it matter if a quarterback’s 25? Hooker will probably be able to step in from Day 1 and command respect inside the huddle and the clubhouse.”
He took it a step additional by calling Hooker a “franchise quarterback for the following 10 years.”
“Give me Hendon Hooker over Will Levis and Anthony Richardson all day lengthy,” Kanell said. “Hooker’s going to be the steal of this NFL Draft at quarterback, particularly if he drops to the second spherical the place you could possibly stumble into your franchise quarterback for the following 10 years.”
Is Age Nothing However a Quantity?
The curious case of Hooker’s draft inventory takes one other flip once we get to his age. He’s 25 now and can flip 26 throughout his rookie 12 months. To place that in perspective, he’s solely a 12 months youthful than Lamar Jackson, who has performed within the league for 5 seasons. I’m not certain if we will merely say age is nothing however a quantity, and the earlier historical past within the draft says Hooker could be an outlier ought to he go not simply within the first spherical however within the first two days.
Solely eight quarterbacks age 25 or older have been chosen within the NFL Draft. The trio of Chris Weinke, Brandon Weeden, and John Beck are the one ones who went earlier than the sixth spherical, in accordance with ESPN Stats and Info Analysis.
There are three alone on this class: Hooker, Georgia’s Stetson Bennett (26 in October), and BYU’s Jaren Corridor (turned 25 in March).
Nonetheless, context issues. It’s not like Hooker was chasing his goals of being an expert pitcher for the New York Yankees.
Hooker began his profession at Virginia Tech in 2017 however by no means broke via and transferred to Tennessee to develop into the starter in Week 3 of 2021. Unexpectedly, the data had been falling as he set single-season marks for each completion share and passing effectivity for the varsity.
“For Hendon, coming again was maximizing his expertise and refining his understanding of the sport,” Heupel mentioned. “He took an enormous bounce from the earlier 12 months. Though he had expertise, he solely performed in our system for 2 years, so he was uncovered to quite a lot of various things. That’s going to place him, when he goes to the following stage, to take in an NFL playbook and perceive the whys.”
Damage and Age Apart, What Helped Hendon Hooker Is Additionally Hurting Him
That very same offense that put Hooker on the map is probably his largest hindrance heading into the NFL Draft.
“Bear in mind, it is a vast receiver-led offense,” mentioned Fox Sports activities’ Joel Klatt. “That’s not a knock towards Hendon Hooker, it simply signifies that he’s gotta be on the identical web page, diagnose defenses in real-time, post-snap for these downfield reads from the vast receiver, after which he’s gotta be correct and environment friendly throwing the ball into vertical zones and seams, and he does that basically properly.”
There’s rather a lot to love about Hooker’s movie. He has a powerful arm, he’s correct, and he can rip away from tacklers within the pocket to make performs together with his legs. The marquee domination towards Alabama was the crown jewel of Hooker’s season, as he linked with Jalin Hyatt for 207 yards and 5 TDs to go a mixed 21 of 30 for 385 yards and 5 TDs with one INT.
It cemented his Heisman candidacy and positioned him squarely within the combine for the top-three rating. Nevertheless it additionally shinned a large highlight on the Tennessee offense.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel ran a model of the deep alternative offense that made Baylor well-known below its former coach, Artwork Briles. It’s a two-back run sport with RPOs and vast receiver splits that actually push the sector’s boundaries horizontally. One receiver on the perimeter is designated the selection choice, in 2022, this was Hyatt, and the remainder get open if attainable, however the play is designed for a selected participant to get the softest matchup.
You’d see a mix of slot selections from a stacked formation, which typically meant a display screen half the time for a fast 10+ yards, a ton of dagger ideas, and Tennessee purely wanting to place defenders on an island the place somebody like Hyatt may learn the hips and leverage to then break off his route. As long as he and Hooker are on the identical web page, it’s an automated six factors, and don’t neglect to gather $200 whenever you go go.
However that is additionally an offense that’s considered to be detrimental to a QBs improvement. There aren’t any actual solutions or built-in changes towards the blitz. It’s a one-read system with spacing you’ll by no means see within the NFL until somebody falls down. Due to this fact, it’s laborious to get an correct illustration of how Hooker’s expertise can translate aside from what we’ve seen together with his arm and legs.
Simply don’t deliver this as much as Hooker as, like several participant, he’ll be fast to defend himself.
“I could make any throw,” Hooker mentioned. “The way in which we run our offense, the vast splits, these are all grown-men throws. I’m not throwing any five-yard outs. These are all big-boy balls.
“I can’t assist that defenders can’t guard my receivers. My job is to get them the ball,” Hooker mentioned. “Plenty of these questions on one-sided reads, we’ve pure progressions and routes. It’s not my fault that my first learn is getting open.”
He’s received a degree, you realize.
Heupel has defended each Hooker and the offense, saying it’s extra advanced than it seems.
“I’m unsure anyone in school soccer has extra on their plate than Hendon does,” Heupel mentioned. “Then, you throw within the tempo that we play at, you’ve got to be a fast decision-maker, you’ve got to acknowledge defensive construction extraordinarily shortly. … He managed the complete sport on each single play. I believe that places him in an amazing place to have the ability to transition on the subsequent stage and deal with all that’s coming at him.”
Heupel mentioned Hooker’s intangibles will make him any individual’s franchise quarterback.
“I’ve by no means been round anyone that’s been a stronger or extra impactful chief than Hendon Hooker is,” Heupel mentioned. “Our program is just not the place it’s at immediately until Hendon is part of our locker room.”
From the First to Fifth and every little thing in between, Hendon Hooker Is This Yr’s Wild Card
The web went ablaze when Mike Tannenbaum of ESPN projected Hooker to be chosen by the Seattle Seahawks with the fifth choose of the draft. However Professional Soccer Community’s Tony Pauline famous, “There’s rather a lot to love about Hooker, however a top-10 choose could be very bold. Based on folks I’ve spoken with, there’s an opportunity a staff within the backside half of Spherical 1 snatches him off the board.”
I personally wouldn’t be stunned if it turns into considerably of a secret bidding warfare, given how Hooker racked up the frequent flyer miles making high 30 visits with the Texans, Packers, Colts, Commanders, Lions, Raiders, Saints, Giants, Buccaneers, and Titans.
With Younger the obvious lock to go No. 1 general, the remainder of the QB class is a little more up within the air, which may help to Hooker’s profit. The Texans are reportedly lower than passionate about Stroud, and whereas Richardson and Levis have been considered as upside prospects, with some linking them inside the highest 5, the additional they slip, the extra possible it could possibly be Hooker can squeeze himself into this vary or vault them.
Moreover, in the event that they go faster than some would possibly anticipate, a QB-desperate staff could be prepared to commerce into the center or again half of the primary. I discover it a likelier situation that somebody strikes to amass Hooker than him merely falling to whoever picks him. There’s an excessive amount of noise at this level to not consider the place there’s smoke; there’s fireplace.
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“You need to hear what groups consider Hendon Hooker?” NFL Community reporter James Palmer mentioned on Steve Smith’s Lower to It podcast. “There are many groups which have him above the underside two that you simply talked about (Richardson and Levis). There are many groups which have him third on their record, proper under these high two in Bryce Younger and C.J. Stroud.”
Based on Pauline, the Raiders at present have Hooker because the No. 3 quarterback on their draft board.
“When it comes to which staff may commerce up, the Las Vegas Raiders are a possible vacation spot. The Raiders presently have Hooker rated because the QB3 on their board and don’t consider their high two signal-callers (C.J. Stroud and Bryce Younger, in no precise order) have any probability of falling to the seventh choose of the draft. It will be a giant shock if Hooker falls previous the Raiders at choose 38, and there’s an opportunity the staff trades into the underside third of Spherical 1 to be able to take him.”
NFL entrance places of work have various confidence ranges of their beginning quarterbacks, and we be taught these opinions at draft time. Maybe it could possibly be somebody not even talked about that’s the shock winner of the Hooker sweepstakes. We gained’t know till it occurs, however the odds seem higher that Hooker goes contained in the top-40 picks than outdoors of it, with a minimum of a 50/50 probability he hears his title known as on Day 1.
One factor is for certain: Somebody on the market believes in Hooker and is able to take the chance. From there, it’s as much as Hooker to show them proper and everybody else mistaken.
