Hendon Hooker explains how it's a 'blessing' to be under the NFL draft microscope

AndrewEdGraham

Tennessee v Georgia — ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 05: Hendon Hooker #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up prior to the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hendon Hooker

Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker knows being picked apart on ESPN by talking heads is just part of the territory he wants to make a home in. And the NFL hopeful said it’s really a compliment to be talked about in such a way.

To boot, and despite a torn ACL in November, Hooker has been picking up steam as a potential first-round draft pick. On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” he broke down how he processes being in the spotlight as the 2023 NFL Draft inches closer.

“It’s a blessing, just to be talked about in the draft. Something that I’ve been striving to be my whole life — just in the draft and be acknowledged for my play and my character and my football IQ, as well. I see it. It’s inevitable to see it,” Hooker said. “I’ll be sitting at lunch and they’ll have TV screens around and ESPN is on. I see myself on there and it’s a huge blessing.

“And I just continue to work, continue to put in time and effort into my craft and what I love to do on a daily basis. And that’s just learn to be a better person and a better player every day.”

And while Hooker continues to work, the NFL Draft evaluators and observers seem to keep moving him up their boards. While he’s not likely to make it into the Top 10, Hooker has a decent shot of being a first rounder. ESPN’s Todd McShay offered his reasoning for Hooker being a first-round pick in his latest mock draft.

“I like Hendon Hooker a lot. I moved him up into the first round despite the injury. I think, for a team like Minnesota, with the cap hit that Kirk Cousins has, and the fact he was 23rd or 24th in QBR this past season. Doesn’t show up in big games. So, now with Hooker, you have a year to redshirt him — and yes, he’s going to be 26 next January. But he’s still a quarterback that you look at and say he can be a future franchise quarterback. Based off the tape and based off the improvement the last two years that he showed at Tennessee,” McShay said.

He continued: “So I like him in Minnesota. I think it’s a great fit. And the Vikings have quietly been doing a lot of work on this quarterback class, so don’t be surprised if Minnesota drafts a quarterback, whether it’s Hooker or not.”