NFL mock drafts are a dime a dozen this time of year, especially considering that the NFL Draft is just less than a month away, slated for April 27 in Kansas City.
While most mock drafts are fairly standard and somewhat similar in comparison, ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum threw a wrench into his Tuesday mock draft that Tennessee fans will surely be excited to see.
Tannenbaum is projecting former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker to be taken off the board by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 5 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
As he continues to recover from ACL surgery this past November, Hooker has been widely looked at and mocked as a second-round draft prospect, maybe even a third-rounder if things fall opposite of his way. Tannenbaum, though, seems to be extremely high on the former Tennessee superstar.
“OK, this one might raise some eyebrows, but hear me out,” Tannenbaum wrote. “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%). I see a potential franchise quarterback and someone who can lead an offense. Go watch his performance against Alabama if you disagree.”
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Coming off of his injury, Hooker might not be in a position to lead an NFL team right away. Having some time to sit behind an established veteran quarterback could give Hooker the necessary jumpstart for when he eventually takes over as the starting quarterback. That’s Tannenbaum’s thinking, at least.
“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,” Tannenbaum wrote. “Smith turns 33 this season, and his new contract offers Seattle various outs over the next three seasons.”
During his final season at Tennessee, prior to his season-ending injury in the penultimate regular season game against South Carolina in November, Hooker was terrific in leading Tennessee to the point of playoff contention.
Hendon Hooker ended his 2022 campaign with 3,135 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, and just two interceptions. Hooker also led the entire country in quarterback rating at 89.5.
High Projections for Former Vols
Hendon Hooker isn’t the only Tennessee player with a high projection from Tannenbaum, though. The ESPN writer’s latest mock draft from Tuesday also has Darnell Wright as a Top 15 pick and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt sneaking into the mix near the end of the first round.
- QB Hendon Hooker – No. 5 overall – Seattle Seahawks
- OL Darnell Wright – No. 14 overall – New England Patriots
- “I was impressed with Wright’s tape, especially when the 6-5, 333-pounder faced Will Anderson Jr. and neutralized him in Tennessee’s huge win over Alabama. Wright allowed just one sack all season and also excelled during Senior Bowl week. The Patriots allowed a sack on 8.0% of their pass snaps, which was the third-highest mark in the NFL last season.”
- WR Jalin Hyatt – No. 25 overall – New York Football Giants
- “Darius Slayton led Giants receivers with just 724 yards last season. Despite re-signing Slayton and Sterling Shepard and adding a few pass-catchers in free agency, it’s safe to say the Giants need a standout wide receiver. I love how Hyatt flourished in Tennessee’s offense when Josh Heupel stepped in. He is slightly undersized at 6 feet and 176 pounds, but he has a lot of speed and posted 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Hyatt could be the Giants’ WR1 as soon as the draft card is turned in.”
