Draft Hendon Hooker With 1st Round Pick

The Minnesota Vikings are facing a major quarterback issue. They have steadfastly stood beside Kirk Cousins, and he delivered his best season in 2022 and rose to the status of locker room hero.

He played a leading role in the 13-4 season, driving the Vikings to 12 one-score wins that featured superior fourth-quarter execution.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell has professed his love and devotion to the quarterback, but the Vikings have stopped short of a long-term marriage. The obligation to Cousins ends after the 2023 season, and that would indicate that the Vikings are looking to add a quarterback in the 2023 Draft with the idea that the prospect will take over as the primary signal caller in in 2024.

If Cousins leads the team to a championship season, the optics will change in the next offseason. But if Cousins can’t come through against top opponents and the Vikings don’t make the playoffs or lose in their first postseason game, it will be time for a new quarterback to take over.

Who might that quarterback be? Hendon Hooker.

This would be a bold and gutsy selection. If the Vikings want to have a complete team in 2023, they must address their need for a quarterback of the future.

C.J. Stroud of Ohio State and Bryce Young of Alabama are at the top of the draft, and both quarterbacks could be selected by the time the Carolina Panthers (No. 1 pick) and the Indianapolis Colts (currently No. 4, could move up) make their picks.

Anthony Richardson of Florida has shot up through the offseason because he has eye-catching physical tools that have mitigated his ordinary performance on the field. He could be a top-5 pick and will almost certainly hear his name called inside the top 10.

Will Levis of Kentucky is another first-round prospect who could hear his name called at No. 14 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That team’s quarterback plans were scuttled at the start of the offseason when a guy named Tom Brady decided to leave the NFL.

The Vikings have the 23^rd pick in the first round, and while they have multiple needs at other positions, they can’t ignore the future of the quarterback position.

They might just be able to hit a home run if they decide to go in on Hooker.

Hooker has also had an excellent offseason, but it is not based on what he has done in his workouts. It is based on medical reports that his surgically repaired ACL – torn last November in Tennessee’s game against South Carolina – is progressing well and he will be ready to play by the start of the season.

Prior to his injury, Hooker was on track to have a seat in the first row at the Heisman Trophy presentation and possibly win it.

But forget about college honors, Hooker has the arm strength, football intelligence, accuracy and athletic ability to win consistently in the NFL.

The belief here is that he may have the best career of the quarterbacks already mentioned.

At 6-3 and 217 pounds, Hooker has the kind of size that will allow him to see over the top of the offensive line and find his open receivers. Prior to his injury, he posted sensational numbers in the Southeastern Conference – certainly much better than Richardson or Levis.

Hooker completed 68.8 percent of his passes in 2021 and ’22 for 6,080 yards with a mind-numbing 58-5 touchdown to interception ratio.

He was at his best against the toughest competition. He threw 5 TD passes in Tennessee’s memorable 52-49 triumph last season over Alabama, throwing for 385 yards and completing 21 of 30.

When it comes to the timing of his throws, Hooker does not have to take a back seat to any of the quarterbacks in the draft. His ability to put the ball in a perfect position for his receivers stands out. He knows where his receivers will be and his timing and touch are sensational.

His downfield throws may be his greatest strength, as his range is sensational. He can look at the defense and understand when defenders are sitting on short and intermediate routes and make the long-ball adjustment to the post or the corner.

Don’t believe the hype that Hooker played in a simplistic offense at Tennessee. It was Hooker that made it look easy to operate because of his situational awareness and game-management ability. The 25-year-old also has the athletic ability to run the ball on designed runs in the red zone or scramble plays.

The Vikings may not have a better option for the future of their quarterback position in this year’s draft or next year’s than Hooker.

If general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell decide to go in that direction, Hooker appears to be a winning choice.