Watch: Hendon Hooker goes through first day of dropping back during ACL rehab work
Hendon Hooker took another big step in recovery from his torn ACL, dropping back during throwing sessions on Wednesday morning. Hooker published three videos of his drop-back work on social media.
“First day of dropping back during this morning session,” Hooker wrote on Twitter, “… feels great to move around again.”
Hooker will find out his NFL fate during the NFL Draft this week, starting with the first round Thursday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Kansas City. The second and third rounds will be held Friday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and the final four rounds will take place Saturday (Noon ET, ESPN).
Hooker, despite tearing his ACL in November, has been projected as late in the first round.
First day of dropping back during this mornings session… feels great to move around again #StackingDays pic.twitter.com/Pqy9aKnFhP
— Hendon Hooker (@henhook2) April 26, 2023
Hendon Hooker in two seasons at Tennessee: 6,080 yards, 58 TDs, 5 INTs
He completed 69.6 percent of his passes in 11 games at Tennessee last season, throwing for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions. He tore his ACL on November 19 at South Carolina. In two seasons with the Vols he had 6,080 passing yards, 58 touchdowns and was intercepted just five times. He completed 68.8 percent of his 632 pass attempts.
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay last week explained during a conference call with reporters that the league’s rookie contract rules could help Hooker’s chances of being picked late in the first round.
First-round picks in the NFL get a fifth-year option along with their four-year rookie contract. That’s why, according to McShay, so few quarterbacks get drafted in the second round.
“Listen, here’s the deal,” McShay said. “The round in which quarterbacks have been drafted the least — only two times in the last five years — is the second round. The reason is if you believe and have a second-round grade on a quarterback, anywhere to fringe second round, early second round, you try to take him in the first and get that fifth-year option.”
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NFL Draft: First Round, Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
McShay, in a mock draft posted last week that went three rounds and alternated picks with Mel Kiper Jr., had Hooker as an early second-round pick, going at No. 37 overall to the Seattle Seahawks.
“This is where I’d feel comfortable taking Hooker if I were running a draft room,” said Kiper, who made the pick in the split mock draft. “Seattle was able to fill defensive holes with its top two picks, and now it can try for its quarterback of the future. Geno Smith’s contract shouldn’t prohibit the Seahawks from taking Hooker if they like him.”
McShay said that despite Hooker’s age — he’ll turn 26 during his rookie year in the league — and the torn ACL he suffered in November, he’s still worth a pick late in the first round depending on the team.
“Seeing his improvement and knowing that he’s going to have a learning curve going from that scheme at Tennessee … I think he could use a year (as a backup),” McShay said. “… But to me, I would draft late in the first if you’re a team like Minnesota or a team like Seattle, trying to trade back in, because you’re going to get that fifth year.”
