NFL Rumors: Hendon Hooker update likely to favour Raiders, Seahawks in major QB shakeup

With the NFL draft officially less than three weeks away, Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker is beginning to look like a lock to go in the first-round.

The former Volunteer quarterback is now being regarded as the third-best quarterback in the draft behind CJ Stroud and Bryce Young.

According to NFL Network reporter James Palmer, plenty of teams have Hendon Hooker as their third-best prospect, stating there's a gap between the two best quarterbacks and the rest.

"There is a gap between the top two in Bryce Young and CJ Stroud."

He then stated that Hendon Hooker slides in between Young & Stroud and Will Levis and Anthony Richardson.

It's no surprise that Hooker is getting the buzz. He began the first three years of college at Virginia Tech before transferring to the University of Tennessee.

Hooker was lights out the last two seasons for the Volunteers. In 2021, Hooker led them to a 6-5 record while completing 68.2 percent of passes, 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns, three interceptions, and five rushing touchdowns.

This past season, he went 9-2 as a starter while completing 70 percent of his passes, 3,125 yards, 27 touchdowns, two interceptions, and rushing for five touchdowns.

Hooker was in discussions for the Heisman Trophy, but a torn ACL derailed that and is the reason why he may not be a first-round pick.

He suffered an ACL tear vs. the South Carolina Gamecocks towards the end of last season, which forced him to miss the season finale vs. Vanderbilt.

With Hendon Hooker's buzz growing, there could be more options for the Seattle Seahawks (pick No. 5) and the Las Vegas Raiders (at pick No. 7) to select another quarterback or get calls from teams that want to trade up.

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How many quarterbacks can go in the first-round of the 2023 NFL Draft?

CJ Stroud Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Ohio State v Georgia

It can be anywhere from two to five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

CJ Stroud and Bryce Young are locks to go in the first-round and are almost locks to go number one and two in the draft.

Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, and now Hendon Hooker are the three other quarterbacks that have a great chance of being drafted.

There are over five QB-needy teams that could select a quarterback in the first-round. Of those teams include the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and potentially the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots. Other teams that could draft a quarterback include the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

How many quarterbacks do you think will be selected in the first-round of the 2023 NFL draft?