ESPN analyst picks Hendon Hooker as his favorite pick in the NFL Draft
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller didn’t just like the Detroit Lions using a third-round pick on Hendon Hooker, selecting the former Tennessee standout quarterback with the No. 68 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Friday night. Miller loved it more than any other 258 picks in the draft.
Miller and fellow ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid looked back at the draft this week and named their best picks, worst reaches and favorite fits. For Miller, his favorite overall pick was Hooker to the Lions.
“The Lions have a real opening for a quarterback of the future behind Jared Goff,” Miller wrote, “and Hooker will have time to heal from his torn ACL and learn behind Goff before any expectations are placed on him. The Tennessee QB came at good value in Round 3.”
Hooker was projected to go as high has the first round in many mock drafts leading up to the draft. He wasn’t selected on Thursday night, though, and didn’t hear his name called in the second round Friday night. The Lions finally made the call five picks into the third round.
Hendon Hooker in two seasons with Vols: 6,080 yards passing, 58 TDs, 5 INTs
In two seasons at Tennessee, Hooker threw for 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns and five interceptions. After transferring from Virginia Tech, Hooker had a breakout season in 2021, taking over for an injured Joe Milton III in Week 2 and never letting go of the job, throwing for 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
In 11 games last season, Hooker threw for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions before suffering a season-ending torn ACL on November 19 in Tennessee’s game at South Carolina. He led the Vols to an 8-0 start to the season, a No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff Top 25 and was considered a Heisman frontrunner before the injury, ultimately finishing fifth in the Heisman voting.
Hooker updated the progress of his ACL rehab — he started dropping back for the first time last week — while on a conference call with Detroit media Friday night.
“Recently, just started running on the (low gravity treadmill),” Hooker said. “It’s no gravity, just depending on what you’re comfortable with. I haven’t had any pain with my knee while I’m going through this process. Getting back on the field and being able to drop and move around a lot more now feels great. It’s a blessing just to take it day by day and get better.”
Hendon Hooker ready to learn ‘how to be a pro’ behind Jared Goff
Goff has been with the Lions since 2021 but will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 season. Detroit could also get out of the contract after the 2023 season, leaving the door open for Hooker to take over as the franchise’s quarterback entering his second season in the league.
Hooker said Friday night his goal in Year 1 is “to be a sponge” in the quarterback room alongside Goff.
“To come in and learn everything, every nuance, how to be a pro,” Hooker said. “Then just admire him. He’s been in the league for a long time and he’s been doing a great job developing every year to get better and better. That’s all you can ask for.
“So I’m definitely going to be picking his brain whenever I can. I’m going to get annoying to him a little bit. But I’m just that type of person. I just want to get in and do my job, especially, and continue to get better day by day.”
