The 2023 NFL Draft is quickly approaching and the discussion around the top quarterbacks in this year’s class continues to heat up.
Bryce Young, Will Levis, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson all seem to be in the conversation for the top few quarterbacks in the draft. However, Hendon Hooker out of Tennessee may be getting overlooked.
NFL Insider Brian Baldinger of the Audacy Original Podcast “In The Huddle” explained why he has Hooker as the third-best quarterback on his draft board.
“I actually believe the Indianapolis Colts are going to make a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to make sure that they get the choice of the third-best quarterback. Here’s where things kind of change a little bit: I believe Hendon Hooker is the third-best quarterback in this draft,” Baldinger said. “Hendon Hooker is 6-foot-4, 218 pounds. He’s big, he’s strong, and he’s sturdy.”
There are a few red flags with Hooker. He’s coming off a torn ACL in November and will be a 25-year-old rookie. However, that could be more of a positive than a negative for whoever drafts him.
“You listen to Hendon Hooker talk about the game of football, you feel like you’re talking about a guy that’s been around the NFL game for five years,” Baldinger said. “He can rattle off plays and formations and coverages and how to attack them. He sounds like a student of the game. And he is. That’s what he is. He’s a student of the game. I love him.”
Hooker improved every year in college – three at Virginia Tech and two at Tennessee. He’s already older than most rookies and could make an impact early in his career.
“You have to get over the fact that he’s 25. You have to get over the fact that he’s coming off a torn ACL in November; he’s going to be healthy,” Baldinger said. “I believe he’s capable of starting wherever he goes.”
If the Colts don’t draft Hooker, Baldinger mentioned the Raiders, Titans, and Vikings as teams down the board that could be interested in the seasoned rookie.
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