Hendon Hooker A Bargain Early
March 9th, 2023
Strong stats.
Joe has had his eyes on this guy for some time.
Sure, little Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, Will Levis (who couldn’t beat out Sean Clifford the Dog at Penn State) and Anthony Richardson (AR15) have gotten all the run and hype the past two weeks. But a quarterback the Bucs have a chance of landing is sitting patiently on the sidelines.
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, outside of Stroud, might be the most NFL-ready of any of the top four quarterbacks expected to be selected in next month’s draft outside of his blown knee, which may keep him out of 2023 training camp.
Researching for Sharp Football Analysis, Rich Hribar believes Hooker’s numbers at Tennessee warrant serious consideration for a first-round pick.
From a production stance, Hooker has a stellar resume. He threw 58 touchdowns to just five interceptions the past two seasons while he averaged at least 8.9 yards per pass attempt in each of his final four college seasons. Hooker exits college with career marks of 9.5 Y/A (96th percentile), a 6.7:1 TD:INT ratio (96th percentile), and 66.9% completion rate (85th percentile).
Hooker also tacked on 2,079 yards and 25 touchdowns over his career on the ground.
Of course, what will hold Hooker back is his blown knee, that knee injury may knock Hooker out of the second round.
Joe is thinking the Bucs could trade up for an additional second-round pick to grab him.
Now with all this chatter about AR15 going in the top-10 — which Joe thinks is crazy — that would no doubt make Hooker a likely first-round pick. So perhaps the Bucs might have to burn a No. 19 pick on him.
Hribar typed that the best place for Hooker to land would be on a team that has only a short-term option at quarterback, which would allow Hooker to heal up and learn an NFL offense.
Today, does anyone outside of competing Kyle Trask’s relatives believe — until proven otherwise on the field — that Trask is a long-term option for the Bucs?
March 9th, 2023 at 4:24 am
They should get a couple high picks on the OL, worry about possibly getting a QB in 2024. Besides, whoever plays QB next fall would benefit from a bolstered Offensive line. The RB’s would as well of course. And if it is Trask under center, wouldn’t he have a better chance if we focused on a better line blocking for him?
March 9th, 2023 at 5:09 am
Too many holes to fill on this team to waste a pick on a player who can’t contribute right away. We need starters, not backup competition for our QB. Give Trask what he needs to succeed. Draft competition in 2024 if Trask doesn’t work out.
March 9th, 2023 at 5:18 am
I have watched his highlights, and I am not seeing it.
March 9th, 2023 at 5:24 am
I believe I’m a 2nd cousin to Trask ( twice removed )…and even I don’t believe he is either the short or long term answer at QB. Hopefully The Trask Force won’t be mad at me.
March 9th, 2023 at 5:46 am
I think Trask and Hooker have the same chance to succeed in the NFL, for some reason some people think they have a crystal ball and KNOW who will suck and who will be good (Jonny football anyone) you don’t know crap (Joe) stop acting like you have the script.
March 9th, 2023 at 5:48 am
Or last “NFL ready Player” didn’t turn out so NFL ready. I hear the term NFL ready Id run the other way.
March 9th, 2023 at 5:52 am
@Winny I don’t think anyone will be mad at you. Most of the Trask “supporters” are only saying that nobody knows what the kid can do because he has virtually no snaps as an NFL QB.
what drives me crazy are people convinced they know what Trask can’t do and then either want us to overpay for a washed up backup to start or trade our future for another unproven rookie QB.
March 9th, 2023 at 5:54 am
Trask might not be the answer, but are any of us sure Hooker will be any better? Truth is there is rarely a sure safe draft pick at QB. Bucs have a young guy they’ve been developing, time to play him.
March 9th, 2023 at 5:54 am
I just watched Bama/Vols again last night. Bryce is NFL quality. Maybe the best ever to leave Bama for the NFL. We’ll see. Levin and AR, don’t see it in the NFL and here’s hoping that the Panthers and Falcons both use their picks on them. Back to Hooker, his scrambling is a notch below others. That won’t work playing against NFL speed. However, he’s got the smarts to modify his game and use his mobility to buy him added seconds. If he can make that conversion AND gets in the right system (re Hurts), I think Hendon can be a superstar. Dare I say Canales planned attack might fit perfectly for HH. Man, this Vol/Bucs fan would love to see another great Volunteer QB make the NFL jump and in a creamsicle jersey once a year.
March 9th, 2023 at 5:55 am
Winny Testaverde Says:
March 9th, 2023 at 5:24 am
I believe I’m a 2nd cousin to Trask ( twice removed )…and even I don’t believe he is either the short or long term answer at QB. Hopefully The Trask Force won’t be mad at me.
^^^^^^^
The Trask Fan Boy Club just cancelled you, Winny…Good luck overcoming that.
March 9th, 2023 at 6:12 am
Joe , I thought you were all about #CollapseforCaleb or #SuckforSomeone in next year’s draft? With the immediate needs of the team in this year’s draft, I’m not convinced that giving up draft positions for the ability to get this guy is a prudent choice.
March 9th, 2023 at 6:19 am
I say draft Hooker this year and trade our number #1 draft pick.
March 9th, 2023 at 6:30 am
Im all about Hooker or RB Achane if one of them is there with our 2nd…after we grab Darnell Washington with our first. But we’ve got to fit a LT in there somewhere or sign one in FA.
March 9th, 2023 at 6:42 am
Not in the 1st! B. Robinson is the pick in the 1st.
March 9th, 2023 at 6:47 am
Dudes older then trask don’t see it
March 9th, 2023 at 6:48 am
I am completely n board with this pick Hooker is a Jameis Winston without the pics! He is is outstanding, plenty of experience compared to AR15. OMG!!!!! this guy is great I could watch the Bucs if they get this guy just pls say no to blaine gabbert and let Hooker compete with Trask Trade up to get the guy the only way this team is gonna get a decent QB play traask and cultivate Hooker Joe found a goody!!!!!! I have not had time to follow all this and here I thought AR15 was the answer no! this guy Hooker is going to be available for the Bucs Go Bucs!
March 9th, 2023 at 6:53 am
With so many teams needing a QB i actually think Hooker will also be gone by by the time the Bucs make their pick.
March 9th, 2023 at 7:06 am
Joe is. But Joe also lives in reality. The Bucs probably have too much talent to tank and not raise suspicions. Unless whoever is quarterback is beyond brutal.
March 9th, 2023 at 7:14 am
I would love to see This guy in Pewter and Red. I think he’s the best QB in this draft, especially since he was not surrounded by cosmic talent at TN like ‘Bama or OSU QBs were.
His interview on a sports show blew me away. He’s a mature, level-headed young man of excellent character.
March 9th, 2023 at 7:29 am
Pass. The Bucs are not going to the promise land in 23. Use our pics for building defensive or offensive line needs. Play inexpensive this year. Payoff the Superbowl, work on the cap pinch, save some money and balance the Bucs checkbook this year. Determine if Trask is a keeper or move on in next years sweepstakes. GO BUCS
March 9th, 2023 at 7:32 am
Assuming Hooker is able to stay healthy, and given his knee and fairly light weight on a 6″4 frame, it’s a concern- he’s another project like Trask – 2-3 years before he’s ready.
So are the Bucs going to spend a 2nd round pick to build around Trask or pick his replacement?
March 9th, 2023 at 7:32 am
Hooker sounds intriguing, but I think we could trade way back and still get him.
March 9th, 2023 at 7:34 am
Did the one two punch of Jay miss and that other bust taken right after him not teach anyone a lesson?
March 9th, 2023 at 7:38 am
Joe – quit being an ignorant jerk.
“Right now, in March 2023, does anyone outside of competing Kyle Trask’s relatives believe — until proven otherwise on the field — that Trask is a long-term option currently for the Bucs?”
The answer is absolutely YES, he is a long term option for the Bucs. That is not a prediction that he will be the starting QB for the next decade. It is simply a rational, factual understanding that until he proves one way or the other how he performs as a starting quarterback, which he has never done in the NFL but did fantastic in a major college program, leading the entire nation in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and TD/INT ratio, then nobody actually knows jack, especially Joe who does not even stand by his writing by putting his name on a byline.
March 9th, 2023 at 7:41 am
For those wondering about how Hooker is doing in his rehab… he has been running sprints recently. He is a very accurate passer, good arm, high character guy that could be a great pick for whichever team that selects him.
March 9th, 2023 at 7:45 am
America;s QB was NFL ready…..
March 9th, 2023 at 8:25 am
TBBF,
You beat me to it!
So I’ll ask……. what’s his ceiling and is he a football savant?
Was Stanford knocking down his door to recruit him?
How does he feel about late night Taco Bell runs with a couple of friends?
March 9th, 2023 at 8:33 am
Hooker is an interesting prospect.
70% completion rate in the SEC is pretty good…
Plus – before he was injured he had his team winning and at the top of the SEC.
I don’t think he will be a 1st round pick but we shall see.
March 9th, 2023 at 8:37 am
If we’re going the young and inexperienced route for QB, I’d definitely prefer Hooker to playing awful Kyle Trask
March 9th, 2023 at 8:52 am
Didn’t know about the blown knee, still Joey burrow destroyed his acl and has been sharp ever since
March 9th, 2023 at 8:58 am
Hooker is being projected outside of the top 32, but still inside the top 100. I’d take him or DTR straight up. Hooker, like Trask can work from the pocket, makes good decisions, BUT also played in a system that meshed single read passing concepts with concepts that demanded Hooker read coverages. The only reason he isn’t being projected as a 1st round pick is because of the ACL injury, but that actually helps us because it puts him in our range w/o having to reach *up* for him in the 1st. We could realistically trade back out of 19the overall with the intention to pick up an additional day 2 two pick, to move around to get closer to picking him while still making a 1st round selection. DTR is going to be in the same range if not earlier just because he’s healthier than Hooker and has some Jalen Hurts to his game as a overly athletic QB.
I’d like to think we’ll have 3 rookie QBs in rookie camp and could very well go to mini-camp with 4 guys in the QB room with Trask, another young vet, and two rookie QBs. I just want to get a good collection of talent and let them all compete. Canales will be installing a new system, and I think he’ll end up with QBs who share some of the same strengths as QBs, but have some contrasts in terms of physical/athletic capability. Like I’d expect Trask & Hooker to be groomed as guys who can get it done from the pocket with varying levels of mobility, and we’ll have at least 1 QB like DTR that doesn’t necessarily need to be tethered to the pocket/his protection to create on his own run/pass. Exciting times, it’ll be dope to see how free agency helps/hurts prioritizing the draft board
March 9th, 2023 at 9:03 am
The Bucs ARE drafting a Qb and bringing in a veteran. Will Hooker last til 19? Maybe. They’ll probably bring in another arm for camp too. They’re going to let Trask compete for starting Qb regardless who else they bring in. We all know all the Trask fans don’t want it handed to him. He has to earn and maintain it.
March 9th, 2023 at 9:31 am
We drafted Trask pretty high. He sat behind Brady and hopefully it rubbed off. Why not play him? I’m all for a QB competition though.
March 9th, 2023 at 9:41 am
They said Winston was the “most NFL ready” QB too. Maybe Hooker is going to be great, but if the Bucs draft him, I refuse to get excited until I see actual results. Winston taught me well.
March 9th, 2023 at 9:42 am
Yeah, let’s burn #19 on a kid with a blown knee. That makes sense. No LT. No pass rush. Losing DBs in FA. And you want Hooker at #19?
March 9th, 2023 at 10:32 am
Trask had 68 TDs to 15 picks over his past 2 seasons, college stats only mean so much. Trask could be decent,, we won’t know til he has played a season, most here will judge him after his first 5 throws
March 9th, 2023 at 10:32 am
Hooker (6th yr Sr / 25 & 2mths older than Kyle Trask) was great at Tennessee in Huepel’s extreme-tempo spread system…but that’s not the NFL game.
To me, Age is 1 thing…But the bigger problem is the ACL leaving some probability that HH starts his career on IR/PUP list (much like Matt Corral did in CAR, last season)
If Bucs medical staff gives positive indication that the ACL will be healed & HH could participate in camp – 6mths+ post-op…He’s worth a Day2 pick, but HELL NAH to using the #19.
IMO, If Levis slides into range for a trade up …Go get him…If not, Licht’s needs to trade back on Day1 & gain extra Day 2/3 picks.
March 9th, 2023 at 10:50 am
It’s official. We have identified a Trask relative…Duane “Dewey” Trask…a “sneaky” uncle from the mother’s side. Like George Costanza…”Duane’s Getting Upset!!!”
March 9th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
WHAT NFL TEAMS OVERLOOK …
There are QBs like Hooker every year. There isn’t a point to drafting a “promising” QB unless you can protect him.
Rebuild the OL. Draft an OT and OG. Then, look at a potential QB.
March 9th, 2023 at 2:40 pm
EVeryone complained the year the Bucs were bringing back most of the players and had very few holes and Licht burned a 2nd round pick on Trask.
This year budget crisis and losses due to free agency result in lots of holes to fill. Unlike the year after the Super Bowl when Licht brought everyone back, the Bucs dont have the luxury to draft a player with a high pick and redshirt him for a year. Need players who can contribute from day 1.
Why take a risk that may never pan out?
March 9th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Blown knee… Jim McMahon took the Bears to the Super Bowl and won wearing a knee brace!! Sounds good to me!
On the downside, the Bucs already have plenty of players that can’t find the field on Sundays due to injuries. Do we need another potential one????
March 9th, 2023 at 8:34 pm
If given the appropriate time I have a feeling people will regret passing on Hooker.
March 9th, 2023 at 10:56 pm
Take Henden Hooker or regret it for years! But that’s what we do 💩
March 9th, 2023 at 11:04 pm
Yep PASS is NOT the answer when talking about Hooker.
This guy is legit when it comes to cerebral play.
AR belongs somewhere with Lefty when considering academics.
Bryce is Waaaaaay too small. Tua anyone?
We won’t have to move to get him.
B Robinson or Quentin Johnson are luxuries you talk about when trying to win.
Tampa can let him learn for a year behind someone like Keenum or Gardner.
Please don’t trade up. That would be dumb.
If he doesn’t work out, then your tanking for Caleb.
March 10th, 2023 at 2:10 am
I don’t watch college football, so all I’ve seen are his highlights, but purely based on them he has the skills to be an NFL QB. Has a good arm, has good quicks, is a good size. But I have no idea how well he reads defenses and what his bad traits are. As for picking him at 19, it seems way to high based on what I’ve read, but who knows, QBs can go anywhere just depending on who wants them.
Personally, based off the limited amount I know, I’d just roll with Trask this year and see what you have, and expect to be picking high next year when it’s supposed to be a QB heavy draft. Of course if Trask is any good, then great, you got your QB of the future.
With that said, I won’t hate picking up this guy if he’s got all the tools to be a 1st rounder. At least that would make the team interesting.
March 10th, 2023 at 11:14 am
His game tape checks out well… just not 100% on his size, health, and still trying to figure out his arm…. accurate, good zip, decent deep ball, but hard to find true intermediate throws…. usually high, not sure he really drives the ball like top notch NFL QBs do.