There’s been a lot of discussion on both the 980 and 106.7 airwaves this week about Hendon Hooker making a Top 30 visit with the Commanders, and where the Tennessee QB may (or may not) have a future in DC.
Get ready for more, because when NFL Network’s Rhett Lewis joined The Kevin Sheehan Show Thursday, that was the first subject Sheehan asked about – and Lewis thinks that in reality, it’s QB at 1 and 2, and then the “Draft begins from there.”
“I have my first mock draft coming Monday, and I honestly don’t think the Panthers can go wrong here,” Lewis said. “It’s all about flavor; if they want the pure passer, it’s C.J. Stroud, and if you want the playmaker, that’s Bryce Young. Based on Frank Reich’s comments, I’m leaning Young at No. 1 to Carolina and Stroud to the Texans second, and then the draft really begins. It’s a legit possibility we see quarterbacks go one, two, three, four. I’m not sure how sold some teams may be on their third or fourth quarterbacks on the board, either Anthony Richardson or Will Levis so maybe that’s where we see teams trade up to make sure they get the third guy – but to me, I think we see at least four, if not five, QBs off the board by the time Minnesota picks at No. 23.”
The fifth QB on Lewis’ board is Hooker, who is a first-round talent but is coming off a torn ACL late in the season and has dropped a bit because of that. No. 16 may be too high for the Commanders to go QB in some eyes, but if Hooker is there, they like him, and can give him a year to develop while they see what they have in Sam Howell (and Jacoby Brissett if Howell falters)?
“No, I really don’t think that’s too early,” Lewis said. “I think he is one of those unique cases where he’s risen and the buzz has continued about him in this process because of how impressive he’s been in those one-on-one interviews. I think he is a true face of the franchise-type player; he’s mature and he’s ready for that role.”
That’s when Lewis told a story about what kind of man Hooker is off the field.
“Being at Tennessee, you have some of that Peyton Manning stuff you have to live up to, and he was invited to be staff at the Manning Passing Academy. The day he was supposed to leave, he was running through some plays in a workout with his teammates, and a freshman had the wrong timing on a jet sweep and collided with him, and he ended up with a bone bruise on his shoulder and some serious dental issues – and he still showed up to the Academy that day, because it meant so much to him to be part of that camp,” Lewis recalled. “He couldn’t eat and could barely drink water in 100 degree heat, but there he was, because that commitment meant so much to him. Sometimes those little anecdotes tell you more about the player and the person that he’ll do whatever it takes to succeed.”
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Lewis’ guess is that Hooker would be ready to play by Week 1 in the best-case scenario after the ACL tear, but again, that may mean a team that doesn’t have to press him into action is the right fit.
“The Vikings aren’t long-term committed to Kirk Cousins but they have him this year, so that may be a good fit for him to sit and learn,” Lewis said.
Sheehan said the Commanders taking Hooker at 16 would “be fascinating given all they’ve said about Sam Howell,” and you can listen on to see who Lewis thinks might be good fits if the Commanders go defensive back, offensive line, or tight end at that selection!
Follow The Kevin Sheehan Show on Twitter: @kevinsheehandc & @sheehanpodcast
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