ESPN names best NFL landing spot for Hendon Hooker
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is expected to be selected on day two of the 2023 NFL Draft
Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker hasn't been able to work out during the pre-draft process due to the torn ACL he suffered against South Carolina late last season, but that hasn't stopped him from impressing NFL teams.
Despite his injury, Hooker attended the Senior Bowl in Alabama and the draft combine in Indianapolis. His willingness to attend those events and go through interviews with NFL teams/media has impressed a lot of folks.
Hooker has probably improved his draft stock a bit in recent weeks due to the way he's handled his pre-draft business.
Hooker, however, still probably won't be a first-round pick. Part of that is because of the torn ACL (Hooker says he'll be ready for the start of the 2023 season).
Another reason is Hooker's age — he just turned 25.
There are still plenty of teams, though, that will have significant interest in Hooker.
ESPN thinks one of those teams should be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jordan Reid, a draft analyst/NFL writer for ESPN, thinks the Bucs would be the best landing spot for Hooker.
From ESPN: With Tom Brady now officially retired, the team has serious questions under center for the foreseeable future. Kyle Trask, a 2021 second-round pick, remains unproven but the team has been adamant about giving him an opportunity to prove that he can be the long-term solution. This fit makes a lot of sense for Hooker, though, because of his maturity and the average age of the roster. It would be ideal for him to step into an environment with a roster built to contend as opposed to a rebuilding scenario. The Tampa Bay offense still has a set of vertical playmakers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and Hooker's skill set fits well with newly hired offensive coordinator Dave Canales' scheme.
This wouldn’t be a bad spot for Hooker in the sense that he would have a fairly open path to competing for the starting job. He'd also have some nice weapons in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Ultimately, Hooker just wants a chance. The former Vol has said several times that he believes he's the best player in the draft. Landing in Tampa could give him a chance to quickly prove that he was the best option in the 2023 NFL Draft.
