Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum is now an ESPN NFL analyst, and he released a mock draft Tuesday that featured an eye-opening selection.
With the fifth overall pick in his mock draft on ESPN.com, Tannenbaum had the Seattle Seahawks select Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.
“5. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN)
Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
OK, 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%). I see a potential franchise quarterback and someone who can lead an offense. Go watch his performance against Alabama if you disagree.
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. Smith turns 33 this season, and his new contract offers Seattle various outs over the next three seasons.”
Hooker is 25 years old — 26 next January — and is rehabbing a torn ACL that he suffered in November. Before the injury, Hooker threw for 27 touchdown passes, two interceptions, 3,135 yards, and put together a 69.6 completion percentage for the Vols. He added 430 rushing yards (4.1 AVG) and five rushing touchdowns.
But the age and health status are hard to ignore, and few draft evaluators have had Hooker as a first-round pick.
ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, for example, have second-round grades on Hooker. He’s their No. 5 quarterback in the 2023 draft class. In Tannenbaum’s mock draft, Hooker is the fourth quarterback selected, placing ahead of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (the No. 11 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in the mock draft).
Tannenbaum made the rounds on ESPN shows on Tuesday to discuss his draft. One of those shows was NFL Live, which featured Kiper and McShay on there to react to Tannenbaum’s draft. Kiper and McShay made it clear that they were very shocked with the selection.
Kiper: “This would be a shocking first-round pick…. one of the more shocking high first-round picks in my history at 45 years, Mike.”
“Coming off the ACL, the age, the fact that it was a quarterback-friendly offense (at Tennessee), Mike, that’s why I have a second-round grade on Hendon Hooker,” Kiper continued.
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
McShay offered similar concerns about Hooker as higher than a second-round pick. He also asked Tannenbaum, “If you can get [Hooker] at [the 20th overall pick], why are we trying to draft him [with the fifth overall pick]?
Tannenbaum replied, “I don’t think [Hooker will] be there at 20…. He has too much upside, and too many teams need quarterbacks.”
“I like (Hendon Hooker) as a second-rounder… If you can get him at 20, why are we trying to draft him at 5? That’s the biggest thing.”- Todd McShay
“I don’t think he’ll be there at 20… He has too much upside, and too many teams need quarterbacks.”- Mike Tannenbaum pic.twitter.com/7T3MBCDUrO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 28, 2023
Geno Smith put together one of the NFL’s most surprising seasons as Seattle’s quarterback in 2021, throwing for 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while having a passer rating of 100.9. The Seahawks then signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Seahawks this offseason that could end up being a one-year, $27.5 million deal. Smith will be Seattle’s starting quarterback in 2023, but he turns 33 in October and has a limited track record of high-quality quarterback play.
Additionally, the Seahawks have two first-round selections this season in the fifth and 20th overall picks, so they have the draft capital to be flexible and consider selecting a quarterback in the first round. While Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young are expected to be selected in the top-two picks, Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis could be available at No. 5- or maybe even No. 20.
There’s been very little chatter of Hooker being in consideration at either of the picks, and especially not the No. 5 overall pick. As long as Smith makes it through the 2023 season healthy, Hooker wouldn’t even play a down for the Seahawks until he’s at least 26 years old.
So, the Seahawks may very well take a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming draft, but it would be stunning if it ends up being Hooker at the No. 5 overall pick.
[ESPN]
