Saints Draft QB Hendon Hooker in Sports Illustrated FanNation NFL Mock

Would New Orleans be pleased landing their quarterback of the future and allowing the youngster from Tennessee to be groomed under Derek Carr for a few seasons? Yes!

New Orleans has their franchise quarterback in Derek Carr. Saints QBs have seen their fair share of significant injuries over the years. From Drew Brees's UCL tear and fractured ribs to Jameis Winston's ACL and fractured vertebrae, a productive backup is necessary for New Orleans.

Recent visits with quarterbacks Hendon Hooker (Tennessee), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA), Clayton Tune (Houston), and Aidan O'Connell (Purdue) signal the team's willingness to draft a young player to sit and learn from Derek Carr and Jameis Winston. But also to be ready, should their top-two offensive leaders go down to injuries. 

Sports Illustrated's FanNation publishers, writers, and beat reporters formulated their FanNation 2023 NFL Mock Draft.

One of those quarterback prospects was too enticing for me to pass on in the first round of our mock draft.

So, in my commissioner Roger Goodell's voice:

The New Orleans Saints select with the No. 29 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the quarterback from the University of Tennessee, Hendon Hooker.

QB Hendon Hooker; Mandatory Credit: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel and Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Pick: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

Analysis: Assistant GM Jeff Ireland said the team would focus on a dual-threat quarterback in the draft, and they've found their man. Hooker is an excellent addition for the Saints, who will spend time grooming the young quarterback behind starter Derek Carr. He's the first Saints QB selected in the first round of a draft since Archie Manning was the No. 2 pick in 1971. At Tennessee, Hooker completed 69.6% of his passes for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for five scores. Hooker tore his ACL in November and could miss most of the offseason program rehabbing but return in time for training camp in late July. — Kyle T. Mosley and Bob Rose contributing for Saints News Network

Related: Saints Draft Outlook: Would New Orleans Select Another Quarterback?

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