The Viking Age
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6 quarterbacks the Minnesota Vikings could select in the 2023 NFL Draft

By Chris Schad

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators looks on during the second half of a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators looks on during the second half of a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Vikings
Hendon Hooker (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

Hendon Hooker (Tennessee)

Measurables:

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 217 pounds

2022 Stats:

  • 3,135 passing yards
  • 27 passing TD
  • 2 INT
  • 69.6% completion rate
  • 104 rushing attempts
  • 430 rushing yards
  • 5 rushing TD

When the NCAA decided to grant a fifth year of eligibility to college athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, it created a new problem for NFL front offices. Teams that were focused on finding young talent that could possess potential were suddenly scouting older players and with players getting an extra year to refine themselves at the collegiate level, older prospects were rising their draft stock.

This is the biggest issue surrounding Hendon Hooker. Hooker turned 25 and if a team were to select him in the first round, he would be the oldest quarterback taken in the opening round since the Cleveland Browns took 28-year-old Brandon Weeden with the 22nd overall pick in 2012.

Even crazier is that Hooker would be the fourth oldest quarterback in NFL history to be selected in the first round of the draft, trailing Ernie Case, who was selected sixth overall by the Green Bay Packers in 1947 and Travis Tidwell, who was selected by the New York Giants with the seventh overall pick in 1950.

Despite his preference to listen to music on cassette tapes (OK, I made that up), Hooker’s stock is gaining steam as the draft approaches. A report from NFL Network’s James Palmer said Hooker could be the third quarterback taken in the draft behind Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud and Hooker has been mocked to the Minnesota Vikings by prominent draft analysts including NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN’s Todd McShay.

Hooker has a big arm and ample athleticism to make plays but his age and his role in an offense that mostly relied on one read make him a project. Coming off a torn ACL suffered last November, it’s likely that Hooker wouldn’t make his first career start until age 26.

Does that matter to the Vikings? We have no idea. But if the Vikings take Hooker, it will definitely be a leap of faith.

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