The Saints paid massive cash to make Derek Carr their new beginning quarterback this offseason. But that is not stopping them from evaluating one of many prime QB prospects within the 2023 NFL Draft. New Orleans will host Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker for an official go to Tuesday, in line with NFL Media, amid hypothesis the senior might sneak into the primary spherical.
While the Saints are seemingly targeted on competing sooner fairly than later, they might be a touchdown spot for Hooker with the twenty ninth total choose within the draft. Carr, in spite of everything, is 32 and could be launched to clear vital cap area in 2025, or two years into the four-year contract he signed this offseason. New Orleans, in the meantime, would not have an apparent successor in-house.
Which different groups make sense as suitors for Hooker, who might be the fourth QB off the board after consensus Day 1 skills Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson? Here are 5 logical matches:
For extra draft content material, try our newest prospect rankings and mock drafts, in addition to our new weekly podcast, “With the First Pick,” that includes former Vikings normal supervisor Rick Spielman. (Check out the most recent episode under.)
After a spendy offseason upgrading the secondary, Detroit is well-rounded for a playoff run underneath Dan Campbell, who’s repeatedly endorsed Jared Goff because the beginning QB. But even when Goff is entrenched for an additional 12 months, the Lions are loaded with early draft picks, proudly owning 4 picks within the first two days — Nos. 6, 18, 48 and 55. If Hooker slips to the second spherical, they might be pressured to entertain his mix of pocket poise and pure athleticism, with Goff solely signed by means of 2024. It’s not typically you may have the sources to handle such a significant place.
Kirk Cousins is coming into a contract 12 months, and normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been upfront in regards to the veteran’s unsure future in Minnesota. While the Vikings lack the capital to maneuver up for one of many consensus top-three QB prospects, they might be well-positioned to nab Hooker at No. 23 or after a commerce down. While they nonetheless have wants at cornerback and huge receiver, additionally they crave extra long-term upside underneath middle, and Hooker would theoretically be capable to sit and be taught from Cousins earlier than a 2024 takeover.
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Hooker has “met extensively” with Las Vegas within the pre-draft course of, per The Draft Network, and he matches the profile of the developmental kind that coach Josh McDaniels could also be looking for to develop behind Jimmy Garoppolo. The Raiders aren’t overly dedicated to Garoppolo past 2023, and but, sitting at No. 7 total within the first spherical, they might not have an opportunity to safe one of many elite prospects on the place. Should Hooker stay on the board close to the top of Day 1, they might be a main candidate to maneuver up from No. 38 in an effort to safe a fifth-year possibility for the QB.
There hasn’t been one other workforce choosing outdoors the highest 10 to do extra work on the highest QB prospects within the lead-up to the draft. Thing is, at No. 11 total, they might want a blockbuster commerce to land a signal-caller they covet. The various, assuming somebody like Anthony Richardson would not fall of their lap, might be to maneuver down and/or use No. 41 total on a successor/competitors for Ryan Tannehill, who’s drawn tepid inner endorsements however can simply be minimize previous to the season. Hooker, who’s no stranger to Tennessee, might additionally sit behind Tannehill for a 12 months as Mike Vrabel prepares to show the web page.
On one hand, Seattle is dedicated to letting Geno Smith return as QB1 in 2023, inking the shock breakout starter to a three-year extension this offseason. On the opposite, Seahawks brass has been clear about eager to capitalize on its Russell Wilson commerce haul, which incorporates choose Nos. 5, 20, 37 and 52 on the primary two days of the draft. Smith’s deal may be very team-friendly, making it all of the extra probably they’re going to add a possible successor. Zeroing in on Hooker, whose soccer IQ and rhythmic tendencies might mesh nicely with Pete Carroll’s old-school assault, would not essentially demand they use certainly one of their first picks on the place. The rookie might then sit behind Smith for a season, and be ushered in when the time is true.
