Are the New York Giants still in the market for quarterbacks this offseason after inking Daniel Jones to a monster four-year deal last week?
Could be. They will reportedly be hosting Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, who they have already scouted extensively, in one of their Top 30 visits before next month’s NFL draft.
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker had a Top 30 visit with the Houston Texans, and will travel to the Giants, Titans, Buccaneers, and Colts in the coming weeks, per source.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) March 11, 2023
Head coach Brian Daboll likes to have a deep quarterback room, and even though the team has committed to Jones, you never know when you’ll have to turn to your backups (see: San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, etc.).
The Giants have Tyrod Taylor as their primary backup but he is entering the final year of his current deal. The Giants are likely to keep him on for this season as they would gain very little in ways of cap space by cutting him and would also lose valuable veteran experience.
Hooker, a redshirt senior who turned 25 in January, would bring a lot of positives to the Giants. He has a solid build (6-foot-3 and 217 pounds) and appears to possess the traits NFL teams look for in a 21st-century quarterback.
“Hooker plays with excellent poise and footwork as a pocket passer,” writes NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein. “He will make quarterback coaches and play-callers happy with his adherence to keeping plays on schedule. He’s still showing signs of improvement and growth at the position, and his ability to hurt teams with his legs creates opportunities to help his offense outside of what he does in the pocket. His recovery from the ACL tear will require monitoring, but he has the talent to become a starter in a timing-based, spread offense.”
That all being said, Hooker’s draft stock will depend on the faith of many scouts believing that he is past his knee issues and will be ready for an NFL camp this summer. He did not participate in drills at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis but impressed during interviews.
Some pundits have Hooker as going as high as Round 2 in the draft this year while others have him as an early Day 3 pick.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen has a long to-do list this spring and one wonders if checking in on Hooker is just part of him doing his due diligence.
