Seahawks an 'Easy Projection' for Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
The Seattle Seahawks enjoyed a breakout season from quarterback Geno Smith and rewarded him with a three-year contract extension ... but it hasn't stopped the team from looking at quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have swung by each of the top four signal-callers' pro day's - Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Florida's Anthony Richardson and Kentucky's Will Levis.
One quarterback whose pro day the duo didn't attend is Tennessee's Hendon Hooker ... but Seattle's been increasingly linked to the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
ESPN's most recent mock draft had the Seahawks taking Hooker at No. 30 overall in a trade-up, and NFL Network's latest featured the former Volunteer star going at Seattle's second of two first-round picks, No. 20, citing the pairing as being an "easy projection" ...
"If not for the November ACL tear against South Carolina, Hooker's talent, decision-making ability and production would've seen him more prominently featured in the top-QB conversation in this class.
"Even with the injury, Hooker remains a not-so-distant future starter in this league -- and the presence of Geno Smith to hold down the QB1 spot in Seattle for at least another year makes this an easy projection." - NFL Network's Rhett Lewis
Hooker, 25, finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting after completing 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions.
Viewed as the next-best option after the top four, Hooker makes sense at No. 20 if Seattle prefers to address its defensive line with the No. 5 pick ... which it did by selecting Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson in NFL Network's mock.
"The Seahawks find themselves in a great spot in this simulation, with two of the three best defensive players still available. I'm giving them Wilson here simply because he provides explosiveness off the edge, something Seattle has needed for years. That said, they could definitely go with the interior pass-rush option in Jalen Carter."
Whether the Seahawks ultimately choose to bring in a first-round quarterback remains to be seen - but should they pass on one at No. 5 overall, Hooker immediately becomes the most likely possibility.
And this idea is only growing ... in part because it's simply such an "easy" fit.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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