The 2023 NFL offseason is off and running, and as the Eagles and 31 other teams prepare for the NFL Draft, all eyes are supposed to be on the four top quarterback prospects.
Another SEC star could be creeping into the discussions.
Hendon Hooker could be another name to watch in the first round, similar to Lamar Jackson in 2018.
Some Hendon Hooker highlights while we wait on FA News. He may be an older prospect, but sometimes QBs just have their lightbulb moment and find it. If not for his ACL injury he’d be talked about more as a 1st Rounder. Hooker is the QB sleeper of this draft. pic.twitter.com/A0Ag4PTn5p
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) March 13, 2023
The 6’3″ signal-caller was dominant in two seasons at Tennessee, throwing for 6,080 yards and 58 touchdowns while completing 68.8 percent of his passes.
He’ll be a 25-year-old rookie coming off a torn ACL in November, but he’s rising on draft boards despite not playing in the Senior Bowl in February or working out at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month.
About seven teams in the top half of the draft have quarterback needs.
Still, only Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Will Levis (Kentucky), and Anthony Richardson (Florida) are believed to be franchise-altering signal-callers.
Teams like the Cardinals, Bears, Seahawks, and Lions could all look to select game-changing defensive players, while Philadelphia is looking to accrue assets after blockbuster draft night trades in 2022.
With the draft fast approaching, here are five quarterback-needy teams that could look to swap picks with the Eagles at some point in the first round.