NFL Draft analyst has strong take on Hendon Hooker and Will Levis in 2023 NFL Draft
NFL Draft analyst Bucky Brooks, a former NFL cornerback and Super Bowl champion, has a different view of Tennessee Vols QB Hendon Hooker and Kentucky QB Will Levis than most draft analysts. A lot of folks have Levis near the top of their draft board. Some analysts, like ESPN's Mel Kiper, even have Levis as […]
NFL Draft analyst Bucky Brooks, a former NFL cornerback and Super Bowl champion, has a different view of Tennessee Vols QB Hendon Hooker and Kentucky QB Will Levis than most draft analysts.
A lot of folks have Levis near the top of their draft board. Some analysts, like ESPN's Mel Kiper, even have Levis as their top QB in the 2023 NFL Draft.
That's despite Levis's well-documented turnover issues and his tendency to appear rattled when things don't go his way.
While analysts love Levis, most have Hooker as a mid-round pick that's likely to be drafted on day two or day three.
Brooks, however, views the situation a bit differently.
He feels like Hooker should be ranked above Levis.
Brooks has Ohio State's CJ Stroud and Alabama's Bryce Young as his top two quarterbacks.
He then has Hooker as his No. 3 quarterback with Levis at No.4 (Stanford's Tanner McKee rounds out his top five).
Here's what Brooks had to say about Hooker and Levis:
Hooker is currently recovering from an ACL tear suffered in November and his advanced age (25) will be a topic of conversation in the pre-draft process, but he's one of the more polished quarterbacks that you'll find when it comes to throwing with anticipation, timing and touch. He deftly manages an offense, playing the game like a seasoned pro. Levis is this group's wild card, as a talented passer and playmaker with A+ physical tools. The Kentucky product has flashed intriguing potential as a QB1, but his spotty play makes him something of a boom-or-bust prospect.
There's no doubt that Levis has incredible physical traits. He has ideal size, a great arm, and he's athletic. But I'm not sure he has that "it" factor that's necessary to thrive in the NFL (though to be fair, only a handful of quarterbacks in the NFL have that "it" factor). We saw far too many instances of Levis "pouting" when things went south for him and the Wildcats.
Hooker, however, seemingly has that "it factor". He wasn't perfect at Tennessee, but he exhibited elite leadership during his time in Knoxville. Hooker was always poised and under control. It always felt like he was going to make a play for the Vols when it was needed the most — like the final moments of Tennessee's win over Alabama.
Hooker has maintained that he's the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, because of the torn ACL he suffered near the end of the 2022 season, Hooker will likely fall in the draft further than he should. But he'll definitely be drafted. And he'll get his chance to show why teams that needed a quarterback made a mistake by passing on him.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
