Tennessee Vols: Hendon Hooker is selected in the top 40 in latest 2023 NFL mock draft
Where Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker will be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft is a big mystery at this point. Hooker was one of the top players in college football in 2022 and he was destined to be a Heisman Finalist until a torn ACL against South Carolina ended his season with one regular […]
Where Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker will be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft is a big mystery at this point.
Hooker was one of the top players in college football in 2022 and he was destined to be a Heisman Finalist until a torn ACL against South Carolina ended his season with one regular season game left to play.
The ACL injury combined with Hooker's age (he turned 25 in January) has made it hard to project where the Greensboro, NC native will be drafted.
Some mock drafts have Hooker sneaking into the first round while others have him falling to the end of the third round.
The latest mock draft from CBS Sports has Hooker splitting the difference and landing in the top half of the second round.
They have the New Orleans Saints selecting Hooker with the No. 40 overall pick.
This would be a nice landing spot for Hooker.
For starters, there are numerous former Vols on the Saints' roster, including cornerback Alontae Taylor, Hooker's former teammate at Tennessee.
More importantly, though, Hooker would have a chance to prove himself as a longterm option at quarterback in New Orleans.
The Saints need a franchise quarterback and since they don't have an early first-round pick, their best approach would be to target a quarterback in the middle rounds. Hooker could be an incredible value as he'd likely be a no-doubt first-round pick if he was a couple of years younger and didn't have the ACL injury (Hooker's rehab is going well and he expects to be able to hit the field later this summer).
We also know that Hooker has developed a close relationship with Archie Manning, the dad of Vols legend Peyton Manning and a New Orleans resident who played for the Saints for 12 seasons. If Hooker landed in New Orleans, he could spend even more time with Archie and the Manning family.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
