Raiders Rumors: Las Vegas Could Trade Up To Select Hendon Hooker In 2023 NFL Draft
Hendon Hooker, NFL Draft, Raiders
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker during Tennessee Football Pro Day at the Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Kns Ut Pro Day Bp

The Las Vegas Raiders found their stopgap quarterback in the offseason when they signed Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year deal, reuniting him with head coach Josh McDaniels.

Garoppolo is coming off another injury-riddled season but should be able to step in and provide some stability to the Raiders offense. However, with several questions about his durability and overall effectiveness on the field, Las Vegas would be wise to consider drafting a quarterback in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

Like everyone else, the Raiders have serious interest in Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, but those two will likely be selected first and second, respectively. After Young and Stroud are off the board, there are arguments to be had for Will Levis and Anthony Richardson to be the next signal caller selected.

Hendon Hooker’s name has started to gain steam in recent weeks, though, and according to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network the Raiders look like a serious landing spot for him should he fall far enough in the draft:

There’s a lot to like about Hooker, but a top-10 pick is very ambitious. According to people I’ve spoken with, there’s a chance a team in the bottom half of Round 1 snatches him off the board. There’s also a chance a team trades from the early part of Round 2 back into the end of the first round and selects Hooker to ensure the fifth-year option in the rookie contract.

In terms of which team could trade up, the Las Vegas Raiders are a potential destination. The Raiders presently have Hooker rated as the QB3 on their board and don’t believe their top two signal-callers (C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young, in no exact order) have any chance of falling to the seventh pick of the draft.

Las Vegas has the No. 7 pick, but that seems too early to take Hooker who is recovering from a knee injury he suffered late last season. His range seems to be at the end of the first round, so the Raiders could conceivably package some picks together to move up for him.

Hooker makes for the perfect swing as he’ll be sidelined for at least the first two months of the 2023 season which means he’d be able to sit back and learn behind Garoppolo. Should the Silver and Black decide Garoppolo isn’t worth the investment, they’d be able to cut him and make way for Hooker to start the following year.