Buccaneers Met With Potential Franchise Quarterback at NFL Scouting Combine

Kyle Trask may be getting his shot to start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that doesn't mean the team is not examining the incoming class of quarterbacks.

There are mixed feelings about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reportedly giving quarterback Kyle Trask his shot at leading the franchise. 

Some think the Bucs are tanking if they put Trask at the top spot, and some think the young quarterback has all the makings of a franchise leader. 

Regardless of who Tampa Bay plans on starting in 2023, they'd be wise to keep a present eye on the future. And they seem to be doing so by visiting with Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

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This was confirmed by Hooker himself during his media session, and in a tweet shared by James Hill of BucsNation.com, Hooker shared what it is he will bring to the NFL franchise that brings him into their team.

"First and foremost my leadership," Hooker said. "Connecting with everyone in the building. Gaining that trust and knowing how to communicate with any and everyone there, and then just learning...football comes after that."

Love to hear that from any young quarterback, even one who is being knocked a little in draft circles because he's older than your average prospect. 

In his 2021 NFL Draft profile of Trask, NFL.com's Lance Zierlien wrote, "Trask is clearly a skilled passer, but it's hard to find evidence of him being able to play chess at this point against what NFL defenses are likely to show him."

Of Hooker, Zierlein says he, "Plays with excellent poise and footwork for a pocket passer. He will make quarterback coaches and play-callers happy with his adherence to keeping plays on schedule...and his ability to hurt teams with his legs creates opportunities to help his offense outside of what he does in the pocket."

At 25-years of age Hooker is already older than Trask who turns the same age on March 6th. But Trask has two years of NFL coaching under his belt and isn't coming off an ACL injury. 

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So while adding Hooker wouldn't mean a change at quarterback this year, it would give the Buccaneers a second bite at the franchise leader apple according to one of the brightest NFL Draft minds around. 

"I would put Hendon Hooker in that same realm," NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah said prior to the scouting combine when discussing potential franchise quarterbacks in this year's class. "Just in terms of when they talk about his football acumen. He is going to be able to pick it up and handle a large playbook there."

If Hooker's draft evaluation by Zierlien is correct then he certainly fits what we believe offensive coordinator Dave Canales wants in a quarterback. 

And if Jeremiah is correct, the Bucs could find themselves with a franchise quarterback on Day 2 because of the ACL injury Hooker suffered near the end of his last collegiate season. 

Seems like a good fit. And clearly, there's mutual interest. Now we just need to see what happens at the 2023 NFL Draft.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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