Hendon Hooker's journey to the NFL Draft in 2023 was an interesting one. Here's a breakdown of his pre-draft profile:
Rising Star:
Hooker transferred to Tennessee after graduating from Virginia Tech, and thrived in their offense. In his two seasons with the Volunteers, he combined for an impressive 58 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions. His 2022 season was particularly strong, putting him in the Heisman conversation before a torn ACL ended his year prematurely. Many draft analysts initially projected him as a potential first-round pick. Draft Day Slide:
Despite his impressive stats, Hooker's age (he was already 25) and the ACL injury caused him to fall in the draft. Teams were likely concerned about the recovery timeline from the injury and his potential longevity in the league. Landing Spot:
Ultimately, the Detroit Lions selected Hooker in the third round (68th overall) of the 2023 draft. This was considered a good value pick for the Lions, who gained a talented quarterback with significant upside. But lacks the opportunity to play.
why did the Lions do this? because trading a third round pick that will never play for second round pick is Major upside
The likelihood of the Vikings drafting a top-four quarterback in the 2024 draft depends on a few factors:
Vikings' Draft Position:
They don't currently hold a top-four pick.
Strength of the QB Class:
The 2024 QB class is considered strong, but there's no guarantee the top four picks will all be quarterbacks. Other Teams' Needs:
Several other teams might also be looking for a franchise quarterback and could be willing to trade up in the draft. Here's a breakdown of the possibilities:
High Draft Pick & Trade Activity: If the Vikings have a high draft pick (top 10) and other teams are aggressive in trading up for quarterbacks, it might be difficult to land a top-four QB.
Trading Up: The Vikings could try to trade up into the top four, but this would require giving up valuable draft capital.
Mid-First Round: If the Vikings fall outside the top 10 and some teams address other needs with their top picks, there's a chance a top QB could fall to them in the mid-first round.
Recent News:
Recent reports suggest the Vikings might be willing to trade up for a QB in the draft [SI Vikings QB draft]. This indicates a strong desire to find their future franchise quarterback. Overall Likelihood:
While it's not guaranteed, there's a decent chance the Vikings could draft a top-four quarterback in 2024. Their final position depends on their draft position, the actions of other teams, and their willingness to trade up.