Mock draft from The Athletic has Vols QB Hendon Hooker landing with historic NFL franchise
Could Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker get drafted by a historic franchise and be the heir to one of the greatest players the NFL has ever seen? That's what The Athletic's Matt Schneidman thinks could happen. Schneidman has the Green Bay Packers selecting Hooker with the No. 79 overall pick (third round) in the 2023 […]
Could Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker get drafted by a historic franchise and be the heir to one of the greatest players the NFL has ever seen?
That's what The Athletic's Matt Schneidman thinks could happen.
Schneidman has the Green Bay Packers selecting Hooker with the No. 79 overall pick (third round) in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In this mock draft, the Packers don’t trade quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as evidenced by the fact that they didn’t pick first at the Raiders’ No. 7 slot or Jets’ No. 13 choice. If that happens, quarterback Jordan Love might (and should) request a trade if he feels he’s truly ready to start. Whether the Packers grant that request is another story, but let’s say they deal Love. Rodgers would likely play for only one or two more seasons, so Gutekunst would need to dip back in the well for Rodgers’ successor. Hooker is coming off a torn ACL, but he can make sure his knee is right while learning from Rodgers. In 11 games last season, Hooker threw for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Hooker has the talent to be a first-round pick. But the torn ACL he suffered against South Carolina last November will cost him some money as Hooker is expected to fall to the middle rounds of the draft.
There have also been some concerns about Hooker's age. The former Vols standout turned 25 last month. If Aaron Rodgers plays for the Packers this fall and then retires after the 2023 season (in this scenario, current Green Bay backup quarterback Jordan Love would likely ask for a trade), it would mean that Hooker would be 26 years old as a first-year starter in the NFL in 2024.
But I don't think that should be too big of a concern. If Hooker lives up to his potential, he could still give Green Bay a solid decade as a starter. If the Packers get that out of a third-round pick, it would be one of the bigger steals in recent memory. And the fact that Hooker was 25 when he was drafted wouldn't be a concern to anyone.
If things don't work out for Hooker and Green Bay, then the Packers are only out a third-round pick.
It's hard to project where Hooker will be drafted because of the ACL injury, but Green Bay could be a fun landing spot for the Greensboro, NC native.
Featured image via Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
