Report: Hendon Hooker to visit New Orleans Saints ahead of NFL Draft

Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker will reportedly visit the New Orleans Saints ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

“Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker is flying today for a visit to the Saints tomorrow, source said,” Rapoport wrote on Twitter. “Coming off a clean ACL tear, Hooker’s prospects for the 2023 season are positive. New Orleans picks 29th.”

Hooker was very positive about his recovery from an ACL injury. It seems like it’s steady progress back into a normal routine.

The Saints made headlines this offseason when they signed former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. With that type of addition, it’s a win-now type of move for New Orleans.

A second-round pick coming out of Fresno State in the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr spent the entirety of his career with the Raiders, first in Oakland and then in Las Vegas after the franchise moved cities. In his time with the Raiders, Carr made four Pro Bowl rosters and threw for 35,222 yards, 217 touchdowns and 99 interceptions. 

Carr was a Raiders staple but the 2022 season saw things turn the wrong way. He started and played in 15 games, throwing for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns and a career-high-tying 14 interceptions. It became clear at the end of the season that Carr’s time with the Raiders was coming to a close, as he was benched for Jarrett Stidham in the final two games of the season.

Last season, Hooker put up Heisman Trophy numbers before his injury. He had 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns, two interceptions, a 69.6%, 430 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

“So a lot of these questions about one-sided reads and stuff, we have pure progression routes,” Hooker said of the Tennessee offense. “It’s not my fault my first read is getting open. But we have pre-snap looks, one high, two high. Which side. Double footwork combo. We have pure progression with an alert, with an option.

“So, you know, any of these questions, they’re cool and all, but if you really dig into our offense and watch the film then you would understand it’s elevated to a whole ‘nother level. And how fast we’re going, I have to process a lot of information at the same time and communicate with everyone.”

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As a member of the Class of 2017, Hooker was a four-star recruit out of Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 8 overall prospect in the state, the No. 25 quarterback in the class and the No. 354 overall prospect in the class.