Top 3 prospects the Tennessee Titans should completely avoid in 2023 NFL Draft
No. 1 prospect the Tennessee Titans must completely avoid in the draft: Hendon Hooker
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been the subject of trade rumors his offseason and even if he remains in Tennessee for one more year, he's not the long-term answer at the position. This could lead general manager Ran Carthon to take a signal-caller early in the draft.
The issue is that the top four quarterback prospects -- C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson -- will probably be off the board when Tennessee is on the clock at No. 11. On the other hand, Hendon Hooker, who is projected to go in the first round or early in the second, could still be available.
Hooker originally attended Virginia Tech but later transferred to Tennessee. Although he started the 2021 season as the backup to Joe Milton, he went on to make 11 starts that year and also set the record for the highest completion rate in school history.
The North Carolina native picked up where he left off in 2021 and completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions last season. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in November and his availability for the 2023 season is in question. On top of that, he will be a 25-year-old rookie. For comparison, Jalen Hurst is 24 and just became the highest-paid quarterback.
Next. 5 draft prospects with the best chance to become Titans. dark
Hooker could redshirt his rookie season but he will be 26 by 2024. While there's a realistic chance that he will develop into a solid starting quarterback down the road, he's too much of a gamble in the first round. For this reason, the Titans should address other needs with the 11th overall pick and worry about the quarterback position next year.