Is Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker a viable prospect for the Raiders?

Could the Las Vegas Raiders take a flier on Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker?

NFL.Com’s Chad Reuter floats the possibility in his most recent mock draft of a Las Vegas trade up to the No. 36 overall pick to select the prolific Vols signal-caller. The Raiders have shown an interest in Hooker during the evaluating season, with The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler relaying that the team spoke with him early in the pre-draft process.

Las Vegas could use a viable backup for Even with QB Jimmy Garoppolo in the fold. Garoppolo has missed 31 games with injuries over the past five seasons. The team’s current backup is 23-year-old Chase Garbers, who has no starting experience and attempted zero passes last season. At the very least, Hooker would be an intriguing upgrade at backup, even if he is not ready to start come Week 1.

Rather than pushing in for a Day 1 signal-caller, selecting a quarterback in the second round might be the right move for the franchise on another front, too. Their defense ranked just 26th in points allowed last season and by waiting on quarterback, they could use their first-round pick (No. 7 overall) to target a young defensive talent who can help jump-start the defensive rebuild.

In 11 games last season, Hooker led the FBS in QBR (89.5), threw 27 passing TDs and completed 69.6 percent of his passes. He also guided the Volunteers to their first victory over Alabama in 15 years. On the more questionable side of his evaluation, a season-ending ACL tear has blunted his scouting exposure, Hooker is old for a potential rookie at 25 years and he did not play in a pro-style offense.

“The most important question to be answered is whether he can thrive outside of the Tennessee offense,” writes NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. “Hooker was frequently a half-field reader, which means he could lean on speed, spacing and route combinations to make life easier.”

That schematic fact could theoretically deter the Raiders because HC Josh McDaniels runs a more complicated system. Las Vegas WR Davante Adams, a nine-year veteran, said, “it’s probably the most complex one (offense) I’ve been a part of.”

But Hooker’s production and his film show he has the raw skills that an NFL team can mold. The Raiders might want to take a chance to see if they can refine his skillset and develop him into a potential starter.