NFL Draft: Why Hendon Hooker Fits Best With Raiders
There have been lots of shakeups recently among quarterbacks as the 2023 NFL Draft draws closer.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young remains the favorite to be drafted No. 1, according to NFL odds, but the rumor mill got enough notice to have some thinking Kentucky quarterback Will Levis could get some top attention, with his odds jumping to +400 to be taken first overall.
Meanwhile, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has seen his stock dropping while Florida signal-caller Anthony Richardson appears likely to go in the top five.
Though there appears to be all of this reshuffling among the top four quarterbacks, one can’t forget Tennessee stud Hendon Hooker, who could go somewhere late in the first round to early in the second round. The sportsbook lists him as a day-one favorite.
Some NFL expert picks have Hooker being taken as high as the 16th pick with Washington while other NFL predictions see him going later to Las Vegas.
The Raiders have the seventh pick and don’t select again until No. 38, so getting Hooker would likely require them to trade up into the first round. Las Vegas would be a good fit for Hooker, who is recovering from an ACL surgery and would get a chance to adjust to the NFL with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo currently under center for Vegas.
A year or so under Garoppolo would also give Hooker the opportunity to learn head coach Josh McDaniels’ complex offense.
McDaniels could also take his time developing the rookie quarterback, who boasted speed, accuracy and strength at the position along the way to winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.
Hendon Hooker in his final game in Neyland 🥹
🟧 355 Pass Yds
⬜ 50 Rush Yds
🟧 4 Total TD
⬜ 66-24 W over Mizzou pic.twitter.com/FMOtyqoThn
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 13, 2022
Not only that, but the Raiders’ strong group of offensive weapons in Davante Adams, Jokibi Meyers and Josh Jacobs, along with a solid offensive line, should make the adjustment a little smoother for Hooker when he sees NFL action as well.
Las Vegas has already met with Hooker in the pre-draft process, so the interest is there and the quarterback could end up being the steal of the draft.
There are numerous odds for where Hooker will end up and the rest of the NFL Draft, so be sure to make your NFL picks before it kicks off tomorrow.
