NFL Draft: Commanders Tried to Take Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
If the Washington Commanders were going to take a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft, Hendon Hooker was reportedly the only one who caught the team's eye.
ESPN reported that Hooker would have been an option for Washington in the third round, but was taken by the Detroit Lions with the No. 68 overall pick. The Commanders were back on the clock 29 picks later and took Arkansas offensive lineman, Ricky Stromberg.
Hooker being the one quarterback Washington would have taken a shot on isn't a shock, given that he was the only QB connected to Washington throughout the draft process, and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy attended the University of Tennessee's pro day.
Ultimately, Washington passed on Hooker and Kentucky quarterback Will Levis in favor of bolstering the defense with its first two picks of the draft. Levis was taken No. 33 overall by the Tennessee Titans.
The decision to pass on Hooker and Levis further proves the franchise's faith in quarterback Sam Howell. While there's been no shortage of questions or rumors pertaining to who will be under center for Washington in the 2023 season, all signs point to the second-year quarterback getting his shot.
Howell became the 12th quarterback to start for Washington in the last five years on Jan, 8 in its 26-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys. No other team in the NFL has started more than nine.
The pressure is on for the former fifth-round pick to produce in his first full season as the starting quarterback. If Howell fails to live up to the team's expectations in 2023, it may spell the end for multiple people in Washington.
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