Another mock draft foresees Hendon Hooker to Vikings
What did Daniel Jeremiah start?
Ten days ago, the NFL.com draft expert had the Vikings taking Hendon Hooker at 23 in his latest mock draft.
Since then, Hooker has seemingly risen in most mock draft boards to be a late first-round pick. Unless you're former Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and decide to make him a TOP FIVE(?!) pick, but that's an outlier.
The latest draft expert to say the 25-year-old Tennessee quarterback could be Minnesota's first round pick is The Athletic's Bruce Feldman.
In his mock draft, released Friday, Feldman says of the quarterback:
"The Vikings don’t need to play him now, so he can keep healing and have time to develop in Kevin O’Connell’s system. I’m told that Hooker shined in NFL QB interviews with coaches at the combine, displaying a lot of maturity and an excellent grasp of not only the Vols offense but also his former offense at Virginia Tech, where he started his career."
Hooker tore his ACL in November ending his senior season early. Despite the early ending, Hooker won the 2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year award after throwing for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions.
In the past two seasons with the Vols, Hooker threw for over 6,000 yards, 58 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The stats all look great but his age is what's holding most experts back from vaulting Hooker to earlier picks. Hooker is 25 and probably won't be able to play much of his rookie season, due to the ACL tear, meaning he won't be able to take an NFL field until he's 26.
Lamar Jackson is 26 right now, has won an MVP and looking for his second contract.
It usually takes about three years before a quarterback is fully developed as a starter. Hooker would be 28 by the time he has three years under his belt in the NFL.
Patrick Mahomes will be 28 one week into the upcoming NFL season. He's won two Super Bowls, two MVP awards and is a five-time Pro Bowler.
Aaron Rodgers sat for three years and still had enough time to accumulate four seasons of starting time by the time he turned 28. He's won four MVPS since and a Super Bowl ring, earning Pro Bowl nods 10 times.
The only reason it seems that mock drafters keep linking Hooker to Minnesota is due to the Vikings' current quarterback situation.
The front office restructured Kirk Cousins' contract essentially setting up 2023 as the final year of his contract. It's signaling they're looking beyond Cousins to what's next for the future.
To draft experts like Feldman, that means the Vikings "could have a hard time passing up the player who eventually takes over for Kirk Cousins."
As for what coaches and those inside college and professional football think about Hooker, Feldman offers this from several of his sources:
"He’s got a cannon. When you look at that Tennessee system, it’s clear that it is a half-field read, where a lot of times half of the receivers aren’t running routes. I think he will have a learning curve making the leap.”
Another of Feldman's sources adds:
"I think he’s super underrated. He played in two significantly different offenses. I was super impressed with him both in our game and on tape... He can make all throws, can throw with touch. He might not run straight-line as fast as Levis, but I think he’s able to escape and create better and has much better pocket presence."
