NFL Insider reveals visits for Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker ahead of upcoming NFL Draft

Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker was one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in college football during his two years with the Volunteers. Many people across the country thought he deserved consideration as a Heisman Trophy finalist during his final season in Knoxville.

Unfortunately, his final season was cut short due to suffering a torn left ACL against South Carolina.

He’s expected to be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft in a few weeks, and on Friday evening, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Albert Breer revealed that he’s got a number of visits lined up. Garafolo revealed the three teams that he’ll be visiting soon: the Las Vegas Raiders, the Detroit Lions, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On “Path to the Draft” on NFL Network on Friday, Garafolo gave a breakdown of his visit schedule below.

You can listen to the audio clip below or read the transcribed version below it.

From Path to the Draft on @nflnetwork: Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker will visit the #Raiders next week, as @AlbertBreer said, and also has meetings with the #Lions and #Buccaneers. pic.twitter.com/n3B6ZBRvjO

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 7, 2023

“Hendon Hooker is also in play for the Las Vegas Raiders, the injured Tennessee quarterback coming off that ACL injury this past season. He has a lot of visits lined up. I’m told he’s also going to meet with the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week. So, he’d be more of a back end of the first round [pick] if he’s going to be a first-round pick. For some of these folks, some of these teams that are looking at him and taking a look whether they’re comfortable with that ACL,” Garafolo explained.

He also let viewers know that Hooker is expected to be available and ready to play at some point during the 2023 season.

“Which I do understand, it’s not gonna be a complete redshirt season for him. The thought is he’s going to be available and ready to play at some point this upcoming season. Now, if it’s a team like the Raiders, where there’s already a veteran in place for the starting quarterback. Great. That gives him more of a chance to take his time, learn, and recover. And get to full strength, perhaps, in advance of the 2024 season. So, Hooker’s got a lot of interest, Patrick, as folks want to take a close look at him and a close look at the medicals,” Garafolo said.

Before going down with his ACL injury last season, Hooker completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards, while tossing 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions. As a runner, he had 104 carries for 430 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He was one of the nation’s leading Heisman candidates for much of the 2022 campaign and deservedly so.

The dynamic dual-threat quarterback led Tennessee to one of their most successful seasons in program history. The Vols finished with an 11-2 overall record this year, including a 31-14 beatdown they issued to the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl. It’ll be exciting to watch Hooker develop in the NFL the next few years, once he recovers from his ACL surgery. The tantalizing tools and skill set are there to form a potential superstar on the next level.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.