NFL rumors: Hendon Hooker nearly ended up with a special workforce
Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker was being eyed by one other NFL workforce through the third spherical of the draft.
The Detroit Lions bought their quarterback of the long run in Hendon Hooker, but they weren’t the one workforce within the Tennessee Volunteer product.
The Lions took Hooker 68th total within the third spherical, nicely earlier than his second suitor had an opportunity to nab him.
In keeping with ESPN’s John Keim, the Washington Commanders have been “tempted” to pursue Hooker if he was accessible within the third spherical. The Commanders held a compensatory third-round decide at 97th total; in the long run, Detroit swung first and bought their younger quarterback, however Washington doesn’t appear too upset in regards to the end result.
One workforce supply stated the one quarterback who would have tempted them was Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker — however provided that he was there after they chosen within the third spherical.
The franchise has 2022 fifth-rounder Sam Howell who’s primed to take over a extra outstanding function subsequent season, and Washington additionally picked up veteran Jacoby Brissett in free company.
Hendon Hooker was almost drafted by Washington Commanders
In comparison with final offseason, the Commanders franchise seems a lot calmer and extra poised. They’re not desperately dialing different groups for quarterback choices or making hasty trades for washed-up vets.
Reasonably, they’re counting on the items they’ve for the time being, and which means transferring ahead with Howell and Brissett in 2023.
Per ESPN’s Keim, the Commanders plan to present Howell the primary shot on the beginning job subsequent yr, as they favored how nicely he developed in his rookie yr.
Howell bought his sole begin in a daily season win in opposition to the Cowboys, and that wasn’t in opposition to a second-string Dallas squad, both.
Within the Commanders’ 26-6 victory, Howell threw for 169 yard and recorded one landing in opposition to one interception, creating stable chemistry with Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin and total taking excellent care of the soccer.
With Brissett as the one impediment in Howell’s path to turning into a starter, it is sensible as to why Washington would roll out with a former draft decide and preserve Brissett as a talented backup for insurance coverage.
The Commanders not taking a QB on this yr’s draft makes Sam Howell a clear-cut winner: he’s their man in 2023. Let’s see if Washington’s religion in Howell will repay.
