Three quarterbacks went in the first four picks of Thursday's opening round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Then, nothing.
Several teams with a need at the position passed on the opportunity to bolster their QB depth chart in Round 1; that almost certainly will not be the case in Rounds 2 and 3, with quarterbacks such as Kentucky's Will Levis and Tennessee's Hendon Hooker still on the board. The question now is where they will land.
Hooker represents a potential quality Day 2 pickup. He has drawn intriguing comparisons to current NFL players such as Seattle's Geno Smith, Atlanta's Desmond Ridder and, in terms of mental makeup, Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts.
Hooker does have some questions as a prospect: He is coming off a torn ACL that ended a promising 2022 campaign early, played in a quarterback-friendly offense at Tennessee and, at 25 years old, is already older than some of the NFL's established QBs.
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Live picks tracker | 7-round mock draft | Top 200 big board
Yet Hooker has desirable traits, both physical and mental, that should make him a Day 2 pick. With that, The Sporting News looks at where the Tennessee quarterback could land in Friday's second or third rounds:
Hendon Hooker mock draft
TSN's Vinnie Iyer projects Hooker will ultimately land with the Titans with the 72nd overall pick in Round 3. Writes Iyer of the selection:
The Titans could target Hooker in the second round, too, but this would be great value here. They'd be getting a big-armed, potential franchise quarterback who should be ready to be a full-time starter by 2024.
Hooker represents the 38th-best player still available ahead of Day 2 of the NFL draft, with Iyer describing the Volunteers QB as having "ideal size" with a " zippy arm, quick release and good overall accuracy." He ranked 69th overall on TSN's top-200 big board.
MORE: Hendon Hooker NFL Draft scouting report, player comparisons
Hendon Hooker NFL Draft projections
Lions
Day 2 picks
- Round 2, Pick 34
- Round 2, Pick 48
- Round 2, Pick 55
If the Lions use any of their three second-round picks on Hooker, it's likely with the understanding he will sit behind starter Jared Goff while he acclimates to the NFL game. The former Rams QB has played well in two seasons in Detroit, and will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season: more than enough time to get Hooker ready to become an NFL starter.
Seahawks
Day 2 picks
- Round 2, Pick 37
- Round 2, Pick 52
- Round 3, Pick 83
Hooker has drawn pre-draft scouting comparisons to Smith in Seattle, so it's not outside the realm of possibility they could take a similar quarterback on Day 2. Smith signed a three-year extension after a breakout campaign in 2022, his ninth year in the league; similar to Detroit, Seattle could sign Hooker with the intent to let him develop behind Smith. Worst-case scenario, Smith regresses and Hooker gets a chance to prove himself earlier than expected.
Titans
Day 2 picks
- Round 2, Pick 41
- Round 3, Pick 72
Tennessee is a natural geographic fit for the Volunteers quarterback, who on paper should be expected to challenge Malik Willis for the primary backup to Ryan Tannehill (if not pass him on the depth chart outright). Speaking of, this is Tannehill's last season under contract in Tennessee: That gives the Titans time to evaluate his play, and whether he's worth re-signing. If not, they can turn instead to Willis or Hooker in 2024.
MORE: Why wasn't Will Levis a first-round pick?
Commanders
Day 2 picks
- Round 2, Pick No. 47
- Round 3, Pick No. 97
Coach Ron Rivera has expressed confidence in second-year QB Sam Howell, but there's certainly nothing wrong with adding a player to challenge for the starting position in Washington. That's especially true with Eric Bieniemy taking over as the Commanders' offensive coordinator.
Buccaneers
Day 2 picks
- Round 2, Pick 50
- Round 3, Pick 82
The Tom Brady era is over and, even with the addition of former No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield, there is room for competition in Tampa Bay's quarterback room. The former Browns/Panthers/Rams quarterback will be the leader to start, but Hooker should feel confident in his ability to challenge Kyle Trask for the second spot in the depth chart. As he develops, he could become the leader in the clubhouse.
