Daniel Jeremiah A Big Fan Of Hendon Hooker
February 25th, 2023
Respected analyst likes.
So it appears, unless this is a massive smokescreen, that 2023 will be Kyle Trask’s debut at starting quarterback.
Of course, Joe wants Trask to succeed. If he succeeds, the Bucs win. That’s the bottom line. And while Trask has never impressed Joe in the many practices Joe’s witnessed the past two years, consider who his offensive coordinator was.
So the recent change in the offensive coaching staff just might be great for Trask.
That doesn’t mean Joe’s not looking for the next Bucs quarterback in case Trask stumbles (or worse). Joe more and more is intrigued with Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. Part of this intrigue is he is expected to fall to the second round because he’s coming off knee surgery. Hooker should be excellent value there.
One guy who is a huge Hooker fan is former NFL scout and current analyst for NFL Network, Daniel Jeremiah, who also was a college quarterback.
Yesterday, Jeremiah held his annual pre-combine press conference to address prospects. Jeremiah was asked if Hooker would be a smart pick by the Rams. Jeremiah loved the idea.
“I really like Hendon Hooker,” Jeremiah said. “I think he is a good player. I think he can do everything that Sean McVay wants to do. I think you start with accuracy and decision-making.
“He can move around, so you are going to be able to use all that stretch boot. He is going to be very comfortable doing that. He can think the game really well.”
And what has new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales said he wants Trask to do? Get out of the pocket some. Hooker is way more mobile than Trask.
The Joe sees it is of the Bucs trade up in the second round to grab Hooker, he would take over for Trask next year if the Bucs sour on Trask. If Trask is all that, well, then you have a pretty big piece of trade bait to go get a player next spring. You know, like an edge rusher?
As Joe has seen many times, teams, desperate teams, will overpay for quarterbacks.
February 25th, 2023 at 12:31 am
So am I ! Draft Hendon Hooker!
February 25th, 2023 at 12:40 am
Hooker could beat Trask out right now for QB 1
February 25th, 2023 at 12:57 am
Hooker’s big red flag is his age.
February 25th, 2023 at 1:06 am
And knee.
February 25th, 2023 at 1:18 am
This Hooker guy looks legit, I like him. But, did you guys checked out his receiver?Hiatt (#11)…Wow!!…The Bucs should try to get him. Omg!!
February 25th, 2023 at 1:19 am
This Hiatt guy at wide receiver looks pretty good too.
February 25th, 2023 at 1:20 am
Ima, looks like we were on the same wavelength!
February 25th, 2023 at 1:27 am
Watched Hooker in a couple of games & came away impressed. Wouldn’t mind having him in the QB stable to compete for the starting job. Still, coming back from a torn ACL is not an overnight journey. The several sources that I’ve read say that he came off crutches at the beginning of Feb, expects to start running in March & potentially be ready for the start for training camp in July.
He’s still projected to go early in the draft despite his injury. So the question becomes ‘How badly do we want him?’ And IF we did want him bad enough ‘What would it cost us?’ And ‘Is grabbing a QB THIS YEAR a higher priority than filling some of our other NEEDS early in this draft?’ Needs like …
o CB (right now we’ve only got Davis & McCollum from last season under contract).
o Safety (right now we’ve only got Winfield from last season under contract).
o DLine (right now we’ve only got Vea & Hall from last season under contract).
o OLB (right now we’ve only got an injured Shaq & JTS from last season under contract).
o ILB (right now we’ve only got White & Britt from last season under contract).
o OLine (IF we end up releasing Donovan Smith like many have offered, we should probably draft an OLineman relatively high to backfill the loss).
We do have a number of untested players under contract in those positions on the current roster, but none who were on our End-of-2022 roster. Given all those other current NEEDS, not sure it’d be wise to be packaging picks to ‘trade up in the second round to grab Hooker’ Joe.
February 25th, 2023 at 1:41 am
Yeah I love the kid but its not going to happen…if there in a trade up to the 4th maybe….
All the rest, sign for 3 mill, thats all we got, if not, all good, move on
February 25th, 2023 at 1:41 am
Hooker would be a great draft choice for the Bucs.
High quality person too.
February 25th, 2023 at 3:10 am
How Silly would it be for Licht to draft Trask in the second to sit behind Tom Brady and then draft Hooker in the second IF, IF, IF he could.
Hooker is ranked as high as 3rd QB off the board. Not worth a First. Won’t be there in the second.
Focus on OL OT!!
February 25th, 2023 at 3:14 am
Hooker is less than 2 months older than Trask.
February 25th, 2023 at 3:30 am
Hooker fan also trade down in the firat to the Bengals, KC get a late 1st and 2nd. Because of his age and injury he will probably drop until late second round early third round.
February 25th, 2023 at 3:37 am
Hendon Hooker is the real deal, he has accuracy and makes good decisions. I believe he will be a franchise quarterback. I’m all for the Bucs drafting him.
February 25th, 2023 at 4:25 am
^^^
And has a cannon strapped to his right shoulder.
February 25th, 2023 at 4:38 am
No doubt about it, a rookie QB ALWAYS lights it up his first NFL season. Hooker is plug and play. (smh)
February 25th, 2023 at 5:17 am
Yeah, Hooker looks real good!
We have a TON of needs. BUT NONE greater than our QB of the future!
The wheels go round on the bus when you have an Engine. And the Engine to ALL great teams is the QB. Not trying to be short sighted. Rather the opposite.
The sooner we find out franchise, THE BETTER!
February 25th, 2023 at 5:47 am
Another Jameis.
February 25th, 2023 at 5:52 am
Bucboy same as Jameis? Pleas explain why oh great one. Because they definitely have different play styles.
February 25th, 2023 at 5:53 am
*please
February 25th, 2023 at 5:57 am
I also like Hooker, but doubt he’ll be ready for opening day. Give Trask his shot (pre-season and games 1-4). If he does great, Hooker is insurance.
If Trask doesn”t perform, your veteran QB is there to fill in until Hooker is ready at some point in the second half of the season.
February 25th, 2023 at 5:57 am
JOE: “Trask has never impressed Joe in the many practices he’s witnessed.”
JOE: “Johnny Manziel has been the finest playmaker in college football over the last two years. Your eyes tell you the kid can play… Regular readers here know Johnny Football is Joe’s preferred pick… It would be an outstanding move for the Bucs to draft Johnny Football.”
February 25th, 2023 at 6:22 am
JOE: “Trask has never impressed Joe in the many practices he’s witnessed.”
First, I read all your reports from practices these last two seasons and actually recall many where Trask impressed you. It was only a few practices during summer 2022 training camp that Trask had struggles, but you also noted that the garbage men he was playing with dropped his passes and weren’t helping him out any. Trask certainly could not have failed to impress you during the final preseason game of 2022 against the Colts, when he posted a significantly higher quarterback rating than both Gabbert AND Brady. 😛
Second, Jalen Hurts also struggled mightily during his rookie training camp, again during his rookie season (QBR 33.8), again during his second season training camp, and again during his second season (QBR 54.6) – all that practicing and playing with the Eagles’ first team. All NFL analysts wrote him off. But then he blossomed in his third season and went to the Super Bowl. Trask has never taken a snap with the Bucs’ first team, so you really doe not know what he can or can’t do.
February 25th, 2023 at 6:34 am
All set. Load up on o-line/get a TE, RB, make a play for drake maye next year. He’s the real deal.
February 25th, 2023 at 6:41 am
Thumbs up on drafting Hooker and Hiatt, get both!
February 25th, 2023 at 6:50 am
BucBoy: The whole Johnny Manziel thing is old news. Manziel was projected to go in the 1st Round, and did. He was a bust. Big deal. It was just an opinion by the one Joe, just like all of your Trask loving posts are opinions.
Here’s a fact for you: Johnny Manziel played in 14 NFL games in the 2 years he was in the league. Trask has played in 1 in the same time.
February 25th, 2023 at 6:58 am
Nope
February 25th, 2023 at 7:02 am
Meatchicken,
Egregious opinions are never old news.
As for Trask playing in one regular season game in two seasons, yeah, that was the plan: sit and learn while Brady chased Super Bowls. Read and learn.
Have a nice day.
February 25th, 2023 at 7:24 am
It’s hard to sell that Trask should not get a shot because of his lack of experience so far…..and then advocate drafting a rookie.
That being said, I do like Hooker…..if we can trade down in the first and still get him…..good…..
February 25th, 2023 at 7:35 am
Run with Trask, if he pans out you have a QB you can build around, if he flops the Bucs will be in the perfect spot to draft a QB in the 2024 draft.
February 25th, 2023 at 7:48 am
And Jameis Winston was declared NFL ready and we all know how that turned out.
Pass. Like others have said, we had more pressing needs.
JMO which don’t mean anything
February 25th, 2023 at 7:51 am
This is one of those where you let the cards fall to you. I wouldn’t trade up for a QB this year who won’t be ready to compete. Much better class in next years draft. Bucs need to trade back as much as possible, and stock up on some meat, and potatoes this draft. To many FA’s, and holes to fill then trade up for a bum knee QB.
February 25th, 2023 at 8:06 am
They should only get a quarterback if they traded back and get extra picks
February 25th, 2023 at 8:12 am
#hotforhooker
February 25th, 2023 at 8:24 am
it’s not hookers fault that in most of his highlight film seemed like nobody was throwing to receivers with picture windows to throw into, uncontested.
can’t tell much about going thru progressions, he had very nice scrambles when needed. accuracy under pressure, tight windows? can’t tell by that film.
understand why college may not translate to nfl.
February 25th, 2023 at 8:30 am
#scoremorewithhooker
February 25th, 2023 at 8:33 am
Hooker in all the mock drafts I have seen isn’t going in the first and may not even go in the second. I think it would be a great pick because of the talent and where we could draft him. Remember there is no guarantee that we land a pick at the top of draft next year.
To not bring in any competition for the QB position would be a terrible idea. I wouldnt mind them them drafting two QBs in the draft if they are able to move around and acquire more picks.
Clayton Tune out of Houston is another talented QB with similar production and to Hooker.
February 25th, 2023 at 8:58 am
BucBoy Says:
February 25th, 2023 at 7:02
Egregious opinions are never old news
^^^^^^^^^^^
So if Trask busts, you’ll just change your name, right?
February 25th, 2023 at 9:17 am
Agree with Jimm, my thoughts as well…. “it’s not hookers fault that in most of his highlight film seemed like nobody was throwing to receivers with picture windows to throw into, uncontested.
can’t tell much about going thru progressions, he had very nice scrambles when needed. accuracy under pressure, tight windows? can’t tell by that film.
understand why college may not translate to nfl””
Film can make anyone look all world.
Careful
February 25th, 2023 at 9:33 am
Draft QBs early until you have an obvious success
February 25th, 2023 at 9:56 am
That really does seem to be the smart play.
February 25th, 2023 at 9:57 am
The Bucs roster is in shambles. Hooker is just as much of an unknown commodity of predictions with the dreaded word of potential in the NFL as Trask.
CB on roster under contract = Davis & McCollum
Safety on roster under contract = Winfield
DLine on roster under contract = Vea & Hall
OLB on roster under contract = Shaq (recovering from a late season Achilles tendon tear) & JTS
ILB on roster under contract = White & Britt
That’s only 9 players on defense that the Bucs have on their roster as they are $50 million over the cap.
The Bucs don’t have 11 starting defenders on their roster as of today.
The Bucs biggest needs in the off-season are clearly on the defensive side of the ball.
Any offensive draft pick discussion of a skill position player like a QB like Hooker is a luxury that the Bucs don’t have as they need a LT on offense with the impending release of Donovan Smith.
Trask and Hooker are equally unproven. The Bucs have to many needs to take a chance on another unproven college quarterback.
February 25th, 2023 at 10:06 am
If we draft him…….please keep Warren Sapp away from him.
It could get ugly real fast.
February 25th, 2023 at 10:24 am
I think Jeremiah also had the Bucs taking anRB in the first round in his mock. No thanks to both. We are good
February 25th, 2023 at 10:30 am
I like this kid, but as Defense Rules points out, the Bucs have needs everywhere. If he’s still there in the 3rd, sure.
February 25th, 2023 at 11:02 am
Chris Weinke
February 25th, 2023 at 11:49 am
I think rfw busc will draft a qb and bring in a veteran.
Spurrier said the best job is backup qb.
February 25th, 2023 at 11:59 am
This makes me really hope Trask works out…
Really need to build so many other positions….
Fortify the trenches and the team doesn’t have to have the best of qbs!
February 25th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
If he’s still there in the 2nd….take him.
Then let Trask and him battle it out.
Go Bucs!!!
February 25th, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Hooker won’t make it to round 2, he’s going mid 1st at the latest. We will be lucky if here ‘s there at 19.
February 25th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
^^^ CB is a Hendon Hooker fan.
February 25th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
BelleGladeBuc Says: “Trask and Hooker are equally unproven. The Bucs have to many needs to take a chance on another unproven [AND INJURED] college quarterback.”
💯
February 25th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
Nope! OL, DL, LB in no particular order.
February 25th, 2023 at 3:59 pm
Everyone wants to label Trask as some kind of slow mudder. He’s not, he ran a 40 time 4/10ths of a second slower than Josh Allen which is about one length in a 40 yard dash.
Josh Allen 4.77 40YD dash
Kyle Trask 5.10 40YD dash
February 25th, 2023 at 4:55 pm
Trask has learned from the GOAT for 2 years. It’s his time to shine. Show us what you learned son
February 25th, 2023 at 5:15 pm
All of you people talking about Hooker are hilarious. Do you think every other fan base without a QB isn’t already talking about him too!?🤷♂️ THEY ALL ARE! He’s not some big secret that’s going to fall into the Bucs laps because we have inside info. You can wish all you want but 15 other fan bases are saying the same thing.
February 25th, 2023 at 7:58 pm
Stick with Trask this year. Plug holes in the OL, DL, OLB, CB, S, and draft a QB next year if necessary. We have bigger needs than competition for Trask right now. We need starters at several positions more than a rookie QB.
February 25th, 2023 at 9:17 pm
Hooker is good but played in a Big 12 style run and gun offense (and had NFL stud receivers)… but put up good numbers against SEC defenses. It’s not a bad pick, but I lean stick with Trask and draft lineman given our situation.
Building an O-Line and D-Line through the draft seems MUCH less a crapshoot than getting a franchise QB. Get the linemen in the early rounds, then draft a shot in the dark QB late and roll the dice that way.
Because if you don’t have the hog-mollies your QB can’t do crap (see Mahomes Super Bowl against Bucs)
February 25th, 2023 at 10:53 pm
Well I just finished watching the highlight video and have just a few comments.
On the positive side I like what he brings to the table with his legs. The Bucs really haven’t had a dual thread quarterback since Garcia?
What I don’t like is the fact that first of all he does not look like he has a very strong arm. While yes he threw a lot of deep passes there doesn’t seem to me much velocity on them and most of the catches it was kind of surprising that they weren’t well defended because they seem to hang in the air and there was a defender nearby. I think a lot of those would have been interceptions in the NFL. For those of you who make fun of tracks arm strength I did not see anything better out of hooker in these videos..
Also outside of a couple of plays against Florida and Alabama I found almost every one of his plays was a wide open receiver with nobody within 5 yards of him making a play for a touchdown. I didn’t see any tight window throws.
I also saw a quarterback who had an unbelievable amount of time in the pocket. I think rather than drafting him hooker we should look at drafting lineman from the Tennessee offensive line.
I’m sure if somehow he falls to the third round I would take a gamble with him at that point in the draft. Give Trask the chance to be the starter and give hooker a red shirt year. And then if both of them ends up being really good you might have trade bait the following year.
February 26th, 2023 at 9:23 am
Canabuc Says: “For those of you who make fun of Trask’s arm strength”
Canabuc, those are all idiots who can’t read the NFL’s scouting report on Trask, which states:
“TRASK CLEARLY HAS THE ARM STRENGTH. CAN DELIVER DEEP THROWS WITH OUTSTANDING TOUCH. ARM STRENGTH TO WHIP FIELD-SIDE DEEP OUTS WITH NO ISSUES.
TALENTED DOWNFIELD PASSER WITH TOUCH AND ACCURACY. CAN ATTACK ONE-ON-ONES AND PLACE DEEP THROWS WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO. THE FIRST FBS QUARTERBACK IN 15 YEARS TO POST THREE OR MORE TD PASSES IN NINE CONSECUTIVE GAMES.”
February 26th, 2023 at 9:56 am
Having speed and a quick release is already an upgrade over Trask. You can’t put a slow moving QB behind this offensive line with receivers that are used to running longer developing routes.
Any quarterback that is athletic is an upgrade for the Bucs. Tom Brady’s quick release this past season was more of an example of him giving up on plays and throwing balls away or throwing WR screens and 4 yard passes.
February 26th, 2023 at 10:56 am
Ed Says: “Any quarterback that is athletic is an upgrade”
That’s what the Browns and Bucs said when they drafted Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston, respectively. 😛
February 26th, 2023 at 11:52 am
Canabuc Says: “For those of you who make fun of Trask’s arm strength”
Canabuc, those are all idiots who can’t read the NFL’s scouting report on Trask, which states:
“TRASK CLEARLY HAS THE ARM STRENGTH. CAN DELIVER DEEP THROWS WITH OUTSTANDING TOUCH. ARM STRENGTH TO WHIP FIELD-SIDE DEEP OUTS WITH NO ISSUES.
TALENTED DOWNFIELD PASSER WITH TOUCH AND ACCURACY. CAN ATTACK ONE-ON-ONES AND PLACE DEEP THROWS WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO. THE FIRST FBS QUARTERBACK IN 15 YEARS TO POST THREE OR MORE TD PASSES IN NINE CONSECUTIVE GAMES.”
February 26th, 2023 at 8:39 pm
If he falls then sure, take a chance on the kid. But I still think we must build the O-Line and D-Line first and foremost this off season. There will be quite a few good QB’s in next year’s draft.
February 26th, 2023 at 10:58 pm
You heard it first right here. Hooker will be a bust.