Seahawks Pick 'Best QB in NFL Draft' Hendon Hooker in Ex GM 'Shocking' Mock

We know that the Seattle Seahawks have gotten comfortable with the idea of using a premium pick on a quarterback. And we know incumbent QB Geno Smith has made his peace with it.

But here's what we cannot know: Which QB in this NFL Draft will end up being the best?

ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum - the former GM of the New York Jets and executive VP of football operations for the Miami Dolphins - thinks he does know.

And it leads to him offering up a big surprise at pick No. 5, where the Seahawks are waiting.

Hooker, he says, will eventually prove to be "the best QB in this year's draft.''

Good to see you have @henhook2 in the first round. He’ll be the best QB from this year’s draft. https://t.co/819Tg3ss9v
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) April 11, 2023

We're not really in the business of making "bold predictions,'' and of course there is no way of knowing if Hooker will truly experience a better career than C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young and Will Levis (all of whom, by the way, were taken earlier in Tannenbaum's mock). But that's where Tannenbaum goes, also taking Hooker above Anthony Richardson.

Mel Kiper Jr.'s eval of Tannenbaum's eval? An all-time "shocker,'' Mel says.

Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum selected Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker (25 years old; coming off torn ACL) 5th overall in an ESPN NFL mock draft.

"This would be a shocking first-round pick.... one of the more shocking high first-round picks in my history at 45 years."- Mel Kiper Jr. pic.twitter.com/tqXE4WIzel
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 28, 2023

Here’s Tannenbaum's reasoning ... "This one might raise some eyebrows, but hear me out. I think Hooker is really under-scouted right now, largely because he’s coming off the torn ACL in his left knee. But I love his strong arm and 6-3 frame. Before the injury, Hooker looked great for the Vols. He led the nation in yards per attempt (9.5), threw two interceptions over 11 starts and was a top-10 passer in terms of completion percentage (69.6 percent).

"I see a potential franchise quarterback ... The Seahawks recently re-signed Geno Smith, but this is an excellent opportunity to draft and develop Hooker while also letting him rehab the knee.'''

There is logic in the roster-building part of this, and we know Seattle has delved deeply into the top QBs in this NFL Draft. Hooker best of 'em all? What we will say there is that if Tannenbaum's opinion matches Seattle's?

It'll be a franchise-changing, decade-making surprise.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Seahawks? Click Here to subscribe to AllSeahawks.com's Newsletter.

Follow All Seahawks.com on Twitter and Facebook

Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @lockedonseahawks today! Click here To Listen.

Want even more Seattle Seahawks news? Check out the SI.com team page here.