Could Hendon Hooker be exactly what the Carolina Panthers need?

Could the Carolina Panthers be overlooking Hendon Hooker, who has the tools to be exactly what the team needs at quarterback moving forward?

All the talk is currently centering on the Carolina Panthers potentially moving up in the 2023 NFL Draft to secure their franchise quarterback. If those in power decide to stand firm at No. 9 overall, then Anthony Richardson is the hot name thanks to his high upside and elite athletic traits.

This is something the Panthers must decide as part of their new collective approach. A key component of NFL success throughout history that obviously disappeared when David Tepper gave previous head coach Matt Rhule the final say on roster moves.

It’s an exciting time with Frank Reich molding an impressive coaching staff. But if the Panthers cannot solve their ongoing complications under center, it’s hard to envisage a scenario where drastic improvements arrive in the first year of his tenure.

Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and even Richardson appear to be the hottest commodities. However, there is also the presence of Hendon Hooker in this year’s draft that shouldn’t be ignored.

Carolina Panthers should not ignore Hendon Hooker in the 2023 NFL Draft

The former Tennessee star enjoyed a phenomenal final college campaign before a cruel injury derailed his progress. Hooker is making good progress and is hopeful to be ready for the start of training camp, but it represents a potential red flag that warrants further investigation from front offices before drawing conclusions.

Another thing putting teams off Hooker is his age. The signal-caller recently turned 25 years old and could be 26 by the time he’s fully ready to assume command of an NFL offense, which means the jury is still out as to where exactly he’ll be drafted.

This concern was not shared by Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, who claimed Hooker should be considered among the top-three quarterbacks entering from the college ranks despite some question marks hanging over him.

"“Injured or not, Hendon Hooker is no worse than the QB3 in this class. Talented and experienced with the athleticism and passing prowess that is required to play at a high level in this league. There might be sexier prospects, but there are not many QBs with better skills than HH. In a league in which QBs are playing in their 40s, Hooker’s age (25) isn’t a major concern. If HH played another position like RB, it might be an issue but QBs are different.”"

Hooker can only do so much given he won’t be working out before the draft. He was seen taking everything in and helping prospects during the 2023 Senior Bowl, where the player reportedly interviewed well with teams looking to find out more about his overall character.

There’s plenty of merit in what Brooks has to say about age and longevity. Coming out late is something we could see more of in the years ahead due to the large sums being offered in the NIL market for top college talents.

Time will tell, obviously. The Panthers will do their due diligence on Hooker, who ticks most boxes in terms of what Reich is looking for in his next franchise quarterback.

If they prefer Stroud or Young, then a daring trade could occur. Should Brian Johnson become offensive coordinator, he might want to continue his fine work developing Richardson from their time together at Florida.

So many unknowns are in play here. But dismissing Hooker entirely would be foolish.