The Washington Commanders like their quarterback situation ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. Washington will give Sam Howell — a fifth-round selection in 2022 — every opportunity to win the starting position in 2023.
The Commanders signed veteran Jacoby Brissett in the offseason in the event Howell doesn’t win the job. Brissett is the type of quarterback who can keep Washington in the playoff mix with its combination of a strong defense and excellent offensive weapons.
While the Commanders have said all the right things about their quarterbacks this offseason, until Howell proves he’s the guy, and he has only one career start, Washington should be evaluating all options in the draft.
One quarterback the Commanders like is Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. The former Volunteer had a record-setting final two seasons in Knoxville after spending the first four seasons of his college career at Virginia Tech.
However, Hooker tore his ACL late in the 2022 season and was unable to participate at the NFL combine. While Hooker couldn’t run or do drills, he impressed teams at the Senior Bowl, combine and in meetings with his character and football IQ.
One of the teams he impressed was Washington. New offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy traveled to Knoxville for Hooker’s pro day, and the Commanders hosted Hooker on a top 30 visit. He was the only quarterback Washington hosted on a visit.
Washington is interested in Hooker. How interested? We likely won’t know that answer until the NFL draft, but Matt Miller of ESPN noted how one source predicted that the Commanders could select Hooker at No. 16 overall.
Is the “Hendon Hooker in Round 1” talk real? Yes, according to multiple scouts I spoke with this week. One league source even threw out a prediction: The Washington Commanders could take the Tennessee signal-caller at No. 16 overall.
While the Commanders may select Hooker, I don’t think it happens at No. 16. If Hooker is still on the board at No. 47 overall, things will get interesting.