NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth suggested that the Kansas City Chiefs select a certain prospect in the NFL Draft, and it will not make the fanbase happy.
The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, Apr. 27 until Saturday, Apr. 29, live from Kansas City, home of the Super Bowl 57 champion Chiefs. General manager Brett Veach has shown that he can bring in difference makers through the draft, with his most recent examples being defensive end George Karlaftis and cornerback Trent McDuffie, 2022 first-rounders. Now, Chiefs fans are wondering what Veach has in store, and if they will trade up to get a big-time prospect.
Chiefs fans, we’d like to introduce you to Cris Collinsworth’s mock draft.
Unveiling his mock draft on Pro Football Focus, Collinsworth suggested the Chiefs use their first-round pick not on a wide receiver or an offensive lineman. Rather, he had Kansas City selecting a quarterback — Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, to be exact.
Cris Collinsworth suggests Chiefs select Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker in first round to backup Patrick Mahomes
“You know what, the only thing that really knocks the Chiefs out of contention is if something happens to Patrick [Mahomes] for four or five games, and they just don’t have that,” said Collinsworth. “They did fine last year in the playoff game with their backup quarterback coming in there. But if you get Hendon Hooker for the next five years by taking him, Lamar Jackson-like, at the end of the first round. So you get him for that extra year which you’re going to need, I think he’ll be ready after the knee injury.”
This is quite the suggestion from Collinsworth. He mentioned that the Chiefs’ contention window will always be open with Mahomes healthy and playing. But last year, he suffered a high ankle sprain in the Divisional Round against the Jacksonville Jaguars, causing Chad Henne to enter the game, albeit briefly. Henne did lead them to a touchdown in Mahomes’ absence.
Henne retired after last season. The team did bring in a veteran backup in Blaine Gabbert, who sat behind Tom Brady on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past three years. The Chiefs also have Shane Buechele, so there could be a battle for the QB2 spot on the roster.
Hooker, meanwhile, raised his draft stock this past season by having an impressive season with the Tennesse Volunteers. But towards the end of the season, he tore his ACL. In 11 games played, Hooker threw for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 69.6-percent of his passes, while running for 430 yards and five touchdowns on 104 carries.
Breath easy Chiefs fans, because there’s the potential that Hooker will be off the board before they are on the clock at No. 31. We’ll see what the Chiefs have in store for the NFL world once the NFL Draft begins in downtown Kansas City on Thursday night.
