NFL
Written By Steve Rogers
The NFL Draft is just a few days away and every team is deep in their war rooms. They’re comparing combine numbers breaking down interviews and discussing trade possibilities. This time of year anything is possible and no offer is too ridiculous to listen to. With that in mind, I’m going to lay out why I believe this is the year the Minnesota Vikings address their future and draft their heir to Kirk Cousins. That is none other than University of Tennesee quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Off-Season Reasons
The Minnesota Vikings have been busy this off-season making lots of roster moves. Most of which was to create salary cap. room. Like the release of veterans LB Eric Kendricks and hometown hero WR Adam Thielen. They re-signed backup quarterback Nick Mullens. Then the Vikings signed OLB Marcus Davenport and CB Byron Murphy. Safety Harrison Smith opted to stay with the Vikings on a one-year deal. Earlier this month the Vikings signed LB Tony Reeder and CB Joejuan Williams.
In all, there are currently 13 linebackers on the Vikings roster. Most likely the Vikings have covered the LB position at this point. The Vikings have six cornerbacks currently on the roster. However, all of them are 25 or younger although some more depth may be needed I believe they have their starters identified here as well. Also, the Vikings have opted to let Cousins play out the final year of his contract. Opening the door to the conversation of who’s going to replace Cousins.
Enter the 2023 Draft Options
This is one of the best and deepest quarterback classes in recent memory. C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young are the consensus first and second picks. The Vikings don’t have the chips to push all in on a trade to the top to get one of these two guys. Then there’s the next two guys Anthony Richardson and Will Levis. There is some talk coming out that the Vikings might be interested in going after either of these two. Again I don’t think they have enough capital to get into the top 15 to get these guys either. This brings us to Hendon Hooker.
The Hendon Hooker Resume
Measurables:
Height 6’4″
Weight 218 lbs
Arm 33″
Hand 10 1/2″
Class Senior
Hometown Greensboro, NC
As for career numbers, Hooker split his college time between two schools he started out at Virginia Tech where he threw for 2,894 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Hooker’s first year his completion percentage was 61%. In his second year, it jumped to 65%. Hooker then transferred to the University of Tennessee. In his first year at Tennessee, he doubled his completions from 98 to 206. Hooker’s yards also eclipsed his TOTAL yards from both years at Virginia Tech with 2,945. Hooker also continued to improve his completion percentage up another three points from 65 to 68%. How did Hooker do with the touchdown to interception ratio? How bout 31 to 3? That’s right a 10-1 ratio!
2022 Season
Last year Hooker was breaking out in a big way before a costly torn ACL ended his season and collegiate career. Hooker was playing so well that he still finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Thanks in large part to Hooker for helping lead Tenn. to an 8-0 record. The list of opponents is impressive too. Like 17th-ranked Pitt, 20th U. of Florida, 25th LSU (40-13), or the blowout win over 19th UK (44-6). The only team he lost to was the eventual National Champion UGA ranked 3rd at the time.
However, the feather in the cap of Hooker’s college career has to be the upset of the again at the time 3rd ranked and reigning National Champion Alabama possibly the greatest perianal powerhouse franchise in all of sports (52-49). Hooker again improved upon most of his numbers from the previous year his yards went up to 3,135, completion percentage was 69.6%. Hooker only threw two interceptions which were tied for the lowest mark in the country. Hooker was also number one in the nation in QBR at 89.5%. Hooker is accurate and takes care of protecting the ball. In all, Hooker threw 80 career touchdowns and 12 interceptions. That’s good for a better than 6-1 TD to INT ratio.
Hooker is not just a statue pocket passer, he has the athleticism to be known as a dual-threat quarterback. No, Lamar Jackson, he is not. Hooker does however possess quick feet and agile elusiveness along with the ability to accelerate like a Tesla. Hooker in college rushed for a total of 430 yards, not a big number but he averaged 4.1 yards per attempt. That is the kind of average the NFL hopes to get from the running backs. Alright, Hooker won’t be leading the league in rushing like Justin Fields, but he will be able to extend plays and make a few on his own when things break down ala Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes.
This seems like a no-brainer the franchise is at a pivotal point with 34-year-old signal caller Kirk Cousins. They don’t seem interested in working on a multi-year deal with a 35-year-old whose “Market Value” might be more than they 1 can afford or 2 want to. Backup quarterback Nick Mullens isn’t winning the starting job. This means looking in the baron-free agent market for an upgrade over Cousins arguably a top-10-12 guy or looking to the draft. This is going to be the opportunity for new head coach Kevin O’Connell to get “His guy” and I think Hooker is that guy.
O’Connell has a combination timing-based and route combination scheme, Hooker like to play on schedule but also is patient to allow route combos. to develop. Hooker might have the best footwork among the top five QBs in the draft class. He has a twitchy quick release for slants and quick hitters. He has a great pocket presence and a sense of when to climb the pocket. Hooker also averaged 9.45 yards per completion. Yesterday on “Bumper to Bumper” with Dan Barreiro former first-round pick by the MN Vikings 30 years ago running back Robert Smith and current NFL analyst was asked if he was picking as GM of the Vikings would he trade up for Richardson or stay at 23 and take Hooker?
Smith stated he “Would feel a lot more comfortable with Hooker over potentially reaching for Richardson who is still so raw and needs so much work.” I believe Hooker might actually prove to be the most NFL-ready and successful QB in the league from this draft class. Having Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson and K.J. Osborn could only make it easier. The time is now for the Vikings to give quarterback guru head coach O’Connell his guy to mold into the quarterback of the future in purple, Hendon Hooker.
