Titans take a closer look at Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Tennessee Titans are expected to host Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker for a top 30 visit in Nashville on Wednesday. Hooker scored 67 total touchdowns and threw just five interceptions during his two-year career in Knoxville. He won SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and helped […]
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Tennessee Titans are expected to host Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker for a top 30 visit in Nashville on Wednesday.
Hooker scored 67 total touchdowns and threw just five interceptions during his two-year career in Knoxville. He won SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and helped the Vols to an 11-2 record.
For a while, Hooked seemed like a lock to be a first round pick this April. But after tearing his ACL on November 19 against South Carolina, his draft stock has been a big question mark.
Some recent mock drafts have Hooker coming off the board as high as number five overall, while others believe he will be a selected on day two of the draft. The knee is a concern to teams, and that's exactly why hosting him for a visit is a good move by the Titans.
Now, let's make something clear. Top 30 visits are not the same thing as a workout. On-field football work is strictly forbidden by the NFL at this time (not that Hooker would be physically ready for extensive football activity anyway).
The visits are used by teams to get to know players on an emotional and cerebral level. They give tours of the team facility, watch game film, ask questions, etc. Whatever it takes to understand the player a bit more and get a sense for their personality and how they process information.
Top 30 visits are also a time to get a closer looks at a prospect's medicals. Team doctors and trainers are allowed to do medical evaluations of prospects during visits. For a player like Hooker, who is hoping to be drafted high despite his ACL recovery, this is a chance to show teams how well he is progressing and give them reassurance that he will be back and better than ever.
It's no secret that the Titans, who have reportedly been exploring a trade up for the third overall pick, have been doing a lot of homework on the quarterbacks in this draft class. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was in Knoxville last week for Hooker's Pro Day.
If the Titans really like what they see, maybe the Titans opt not to trade up and Hooker stays in the Volunteer State after all.
